"You Are a Skilled Metal Worker"

Scripture: Exodus 38:22-23 "Bezalel the son of Uri ... made all the Lord had commanded Moses. And with I'm was Aholiab ... an engraver and designer, a weaver ....

Observation: These two men were in charge of the extensive work of constructing the tabernacle following all the detail which God had laid out for Moses. Chapter 39, verses 32 and 43 indicate there were a lot of Israelites on the project.

This is amazing. Here the Israelites are, out in the wilderness, and they have all this stuff, supplies and tools to build and fabricate, and all this skill and ability to complete the task. Where and how did they get this? They had just spent, as a nation, 430 years learning and perfecting these skills as slaves constructing palaces, shrines, homes, and even idols for the Egyptians! They were experts!

The tools they took with them from Egypt. The gold, silver, bronze, and linens were given to them when they left. The Egyptians lost over a million people who likely represented their entire workforce of construction and fabrication experts.

This also speaks about God's sovereignty. He did not simply have foreknowledge (as far back as Abram's sacrifice and accompanying dream in Genesis 15:7-21) that the Israelites would end up in Egypt and be enslaved. God planned it that way. He was preparing them to be the great nation that they became.The trials that they endured were just something that God took advantage of; it was his will and through it he produced a nation through which he could make himself known to all the world as an awesome God.

Application: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. God will do miracles in my life, glorify himself, and cause his enemies to stumble and fall regardless of, and actually through, my failures, past bondage to sin and all the trials I have endured. Trust in the Lord! He also has my life planned, and the lives of my family planned, to bring him glory. Never quit praising and thanking him for what he is doing even when things look dark and doubt is the only thing I want to express.

Prayer: You are glorious and amazing God. I'm floored that I get to be your child! I will worship you and trust you when the thundering and crashes of life's storms beat against my ship. You turn the storm back on itself! You make your name great! I love you. Amen.