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Last week we looked at a passage from Genesis and one from Revelation, today we will look at the following passage from Exodus 31:1-11 "Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.  Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him.  Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you:  the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent - the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand - and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place.  They are to make them just as I commanded you.'"

To put this passage in context, God is instructing Moses about the construction of the Tabernacle that the Israelites will carry with them during their time in the wilderness, to set up everywhere they go, a place to meet with God and worship him.  The Tabernacle will be a place where the glory of God will reside.  Moses will enter the Tabernacle to meet with God.  God chooses Bezalel to be the one in charge of this major construction project and he equips Bezalel with all the necessary talents and abilities to complete the job.  The very first thing God does for Bezalel is to fill him with his own Spirit, the very Spirit of God.  This filling with the Spirit of God is manifested in the artistic skills Bezalel will require to fulfill his calling.  In this passage we see that God is in charge, God chooses who he will fill and in what way the Spirit will be manifested within that person.  The Spirit of God will assist in the building of the Tabernacle, bringing the people to God in a very concrete way, and bringing glory to God through the worship that will happen there.  The filling of the Spirit of God within a person always brings gifts, and always brings glory to God.  Let the Spirit come!  Let us be the living tabernacle glorifying God in all we do!