“The Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have called by name, Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship to devise artistic designs. To work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him, Oholiab the son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability that they may make all that I have commanded you.'”
-Exodus 31:1–6
Exodus 31:1–6 is a little longer passage than we normally read and pray according to on this podcast. But the reason I wanted to read all six of those verses is because, well, I love Exodus 31:1–6. And the way they describe God’s grace in giving ability, intelligence, knowledge, craftsmanship, and to devise artistic designs. His gifts of working in all kinds of ways in gold, silver, and bronze. And in giving cutting stones and carving wood, to work in every craft. “I have given, God says, “to all able men ability that they may make all that I have commanded you.”
Exodus 31:1–6 Reminds Us We Have God Given Gifts
God gives abilities ultimately for His purposes to be accomplished.
When I read Exodus 31:1–6, I think about all the different skills and gifts that He has given to us. I think about doctors and the skills and abilities they have. I think about teachers and the skills and abilities they have. And I think about craftsmen who make things. Also, I think about artists. Oh, I think about all kinds of different people with all kinds of different skills, abilities, crafts, knowledge, and intellect. It all comes from God. To see every picture of craftsmanship and skill and ability in people as a good gift from God, we know this. The Bible clearly teaches every good gift comes from God. This includes every ounce of intelligence. It includes every bit of knowledge, every ability in crafting or doing something.
Based on these verses let’s praise God for the different gifts and skills He’s given us. And to people around us. Let’s pray that God would help us and others to use these gifts for His good purposes. Just like with anything, all kinds of good gifts can be used in unhelpful ways.
Exodus 31:1–6 Leads Us to Praise God
So, God, we praise you for your grace in each of our lives, for abilities you’ve given to us, for education, experience, skills that you’ve given to different ones of us in different ways. God, we praise you. We may not feel as skilled as the next person in this or that, but God, any skill we have in anything is evidence of your grace, and we praise you. We pause today to praise you for the good gifts you’ve given to each of us, for good gifts we see in others. When we see someone excelling at their craft, we see someone excelling at their job, God, we know that’s a good gift from you.
We give you glory for the way we see your good gifts at work in different people. And God, we pray that every ounce of intelligence we have, every single ability we have even down to the most basic of abilities, the ability to speak, the ability to hear, the ability to work in any capacity, and God with unique skills that you’ve entrusted to different people, God, we pray that you would help us to use these gifts for your glory. Every gift we have today use for your glory.
This Verse Reminds Us to Glorify God in All that We Do
Help us to give glory as we see your grace at work in all kinds of different people’s gifts and abilities around us. I think about my time with you this morning. And just praying, “Take my life, let it be consecrated all to thee.” All to you, every ounce of intellect, every word from my lips. Take every single thing I do with my hands, every single place I go with my feet. God, we pray that you would be glorified with all the good gifts that you have given us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
