When the Lord directs you to something out of your reach, remember that everything is within His reach (Jn. 11:43).
Tag: Yeshua
“Do we have a __ with us?
After Moses is given the design and specifications for the Tabernacle, the Lord reveals the one purposed from eternity past to make it a reality.
Bezaleel, the son of Uri, was called by name (Ex. 35:30), out of obscurity to be project manager for the Tabernacle of God.
Bezaleel was an artist, a craftsman, a fabricator. He could take natural raw materials, and invest in the physical, divine character and purpose.
The hands of Bezaleel were used to create a space where God’s Spirit, His abiding presence, would rest upon the earth; and that space, for 500 years, would be the focal point for the faith life of Israel.
בְּצַלְאֵל/Bezaleel means, in the shadow of God. At the appointed time in history, Bezaleel, and his gifting, were called, by name, from the protective shadow of God to shine into a specific space, place, and time. Bezaleel was an artist, called by the Lord to bring the heavenly reality a little closer, in an accessible way, to the earth.
Not all of us are a Moses, an Aaron, or even a Bezaleel, but we are all in the Lord’s protective shadow, gifted in preparation for His service.
Can you imagine an artist like Bezaleel in the wilderness? “What good are my skills, talents, and imagination out here?” Then, out of the blue Moses, stands before all the congregation of Israel and says, “The Lord told me to call Bezaleel to build His Tabernacle. Do we have a Bezaleel here?”
Probably a close approximation of what actually happened, right? Well, something like that.
The apostle Paul encourages us, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (I Cor. 12:4-7).
While Bezaleel undoubtedly had a position, and of course income in Egypt, when, by faith, he walked out of Israel, he might have believed that that part of his life wouldn’t be useful or necessary in a wilderness camp.
Yet, in that space he would do the most enduring, and important work of his life.
While we might not have so grand a moment as Bezaleel, in faith, when the Lord calls us to walk in the gift His has deposited into us by the Holy Spirit, as Paul encouraged, it will be for the benefit of all; and we too, will help make the heavenly reality more accessible to the world around us. This is the legacy of those called by God, in His Son, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Be well. Shalom.
No Direction
Sheep are a flocking animal. They enjoy, by necessity of safety and comfort, company. They do not like to be isolated or alone; in instances when they are cut off from the flock they cry: baa!
Sheep, unless they are spooked, like to slowly roam around as the graze. Moving ever so slowly. Calling to each other from time to time. Lifting their heads to look for danger, or to see their companions. Then, as some lay down to ruminate, they settle, getting up from time to time to nibble again.
As followers of Messiah we have a tendency to be in a rush. We want to move, check out new grass, see what’s over the hill. We should not be in such a rush; rather, we need to learn patience.
In a flock there is always a lead ewe that other sheep will flock to, follow, and settle around. Then there is the shepherd, whose voice, posture, and presence the sheep know. His presence among them is not threatening, but comforting. When he calls, they will follow, or come to him.
As Yeshua/Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Have you ever considered what happens when the shepherd stops moving? When we linger in one place too long, at times we get antsy, “Why isn’t the shepherd leading me? Why have we stopped? I need some direction!”
The psalmist writes, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way” (Ps. 37:23).
מֵיְהוָה, מִצְעֲדֵי-גֶבֶר כּוֹנָנוּ וְדַרְכּוֹ יֶחְפָּץ
Translated another way, “The pace of a strong and faithful man are prepared by the Lord, and He delights in his way.”
I’ve translated “steps” relying on the meaning of its root, which speaks of the pace of movement.
We are used to moving, especially in faith, but standing still, grazing in one place we have yet to master. When the Lord calls us to move, we move. Even if you do not know the exact direction, you will move in the flow of the shepherd’s flock.
The Lord prepares our steps according to the strength of scriptural nourishment. We should not expect that He will prepare steps to take us where we not strong enough to walk.
Why does the Lord delight? Because in the steps that He has prepared, no matter how difficult the way might appear, we are triumphing in His grace, and not stumbling. That’s why He delights in our way.
Fed, we stand. Standing, we move. Moving, we follow Him, the Shepherd.
When you do not have direction from the Shepherd, what you should do is simple: don’t move, graze a while. Be still. Know that He is God. And that because He is leading you, He hasn’t left you.
Fill up where you are, and be strong for the way ahead, and when He gives the word, move.
Be well. Shalom.
the mountain mensch 