Community Devotions

Called by Name, Filled with His Spirit

SCRIPTURE

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have 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, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood for every craft 6 And behold I have appointed with him Ohiliab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they make all that I have commanded you. (Exodus 31:2-6)

OBSERVATION

Whom God calls, he fills with His Spirit. Whom He appoints, He anoints. God specifically called Bezalel by name. His assignment was to build the tabernacle (ark of the covenant, tent of meeting, mercy seat furnishings of the tent) and the Lord filled with the Holy Spirit to empower him to do so. The Holy Spirit filling Bezalel enabled him with ability, intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship. The Lord also appointed Ohiliab and gave him the ability to make all the furnishings in the tent.

APPLICATION

I need to step out in faith to the things that God has called me to! God has both called and empowered me to fulfill His calling on my life. I need to have that dependency on God and walk in that God confidence. Walk in my anointing to shepherd my family and the church with grace, truth and love.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for reaffirming my confidence in you! Help me to lean on and depend on your spirit for this season! Maranatha!

Missionary God

Scripture

And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. Exodus 12:37

Observation

How many times do I quickly breeze through the bible and gloss over passages like these? Pharaoh finally relents to God’s command through Moses to “let my people go”. As the people journeyed from Rameses to Succoth (a “block, shut off, stop the approach) before the Exodus, we notice the six hundred thousand men on foot not including women and children. "A mixed multitude also went up with them…” Did you catch that? NIV states that “many other people went up with them.” NLT says it was “a rabble of non-Israelites went with them.” God saved some pagan Egyptians, sojourners and other foreigners to bring them to the Promised Land. Yahweh even commanded Moses and Aaron to make provisions in the instruction of the Passover to include foreigners (12:48-49). 

Application

The fallacy of an unloving and angry God in the Old Testament killing babies, destroying pagans and judging nations still runs strong. Yet here in the second book of the bible as the people of God are on the precipice of a mass exodus to freedom and prosperity to the Promised Land, our Heavenly Father is a missionary God. He sends the people of God to be His missionary to save many non-Israelites. Point of obedience: 

 - Praise and worship my unchanging, eternally-loving, compassionate God. He does not change. His love and inclusivity of sojourners and foreigners don’t change.

 - Deeply consider the political ramifications of following and obeying my missionary God: Let biblical convictions shape my political beliefs, not the other way around.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for your unconditional love. Thank you that you would leave the 99 sheep in the fold to seek and save that one lost sheep. May your love change me to be more like you. If there is any area of prejudice and exclusivity, I confess and repent. Make me be more like you. In Jesus name. Amen!