This morning my journey through the Bible brought me to this incredible passage that appears at the end of Exodus 35 and beginning of Exodus 36.
Exodus 35:31-35 (NLT), The LORD has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, intelligence, and skill in all kinds of crafts. 32 He is able to create beautiful objects from gold, silver, and bronze. 33 He is skilled in cutting and setting gemstones and in carving wood. In fact, he has every necessary skill. 34 And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach their skills to others. 35 The LORD has given them special skills as jewelers, designers, weavers, and embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn on fine linen cloth. They excel in all the crafts needed for the work.
Exodus 36:1-2 (NLT), Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other craftsmen whom the LORD has gifted with wisdom, skill, and intelligence will construct and furnish the Tabernacle, just as the LORD has commanded. 2 So Moses told Bezalel and Oholiab to begin the work, along with all those who were specially gifted by the LORD.
I love this passage. Love it! I think it gives us a GLIMPSE - just a glimpse - of what God desires for His Church.
When it came time to build the tabernacle, God gifted a couple of artists with the unique and special gifts required to do the creative and artistic work work on the tabernacle. Their names? Bazalel and Oholiab. Just call them "Baz" and "Oho" for short.
Here's the scoop on Baz and Oho. They were "filled with the Spirit of God" (35:31). Why? Because the Spirit is the source of creativity and artistry.
I love the fact that Verse 33 says, they were gifted with "every necessary skill." These guys had everything they needed to accomplish all that God wanted them to accomplish.
Furthermore, from the outset, God didn't want this to be a "two man show" - a duet. He wanted these guys to create a culture that fostered creativity and artistry. God wanted a TEAM. Check out Verse 34 They were gifted to "teach their skills to others."
This was God's expectation, and Baz and Oho lived it. Chapter 35 says that when they began the work, they began it with those who were "specially gifted by God."
A few thoughts from this passage.
First of all, it's crucial that the church stay "in sync" with the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that "hovered over the face of the deep" as God spoke creation into existence lives in every believer and longs to birth creativity and artistry in His church.
It's crucial that we live with this awareness - the Spirit is the source of creativity. He is the ultimate artist. It's our job to stay surrendered and submitted to His leadership and lean into the "leadings" He brings our way.
Second, it's important that the church create a culture that fosters artistry and creativity.
A few weeks ago, my wife met with John Larson, the worship pastor at Church of the Highlands. John said something that has stuck with us since that meeting. I'm certain we've heard it before, but it was great to hear it again.
As Janet and John talked about how create a culture that attracts artists, John looked at Janet and said, "Janet, God always resources His church. Always."
I really believe God has placed incredible and untapped potential in most of our churches that remains latent for years. Somehow the church has to do what Baz and Oho did. We have to create a culture that fosters creativity and artistry specifically among those who've been "specially gifted by God." In fact, one of our responsibilities as leaders is to help these people unlock that potential.
An incredible example of this is what God has done through Darlene Zschech and Hillsongs Australia. Darlene could have sat on her laurels after "Shout to the Lord." Instead, she invested in people like Joel Houston and Brooke Fraser to name a few. Today, the ministry and reach of Hillsong reaches around the world, and will continue long after Darlene exits the stage.
Third, most of the time when we talk about creativity and artistry we get hung up on the musical aspect of these gifts... But Baz and Oho were ARTISTS. They made stuff. Really cool and amazing stuff! When you walked into the tabernacle you would have been BLOWN AWAY by the sheer brilliance of the art on display.
It's important that we remember that the creative arts encompass a huge area that today would include: painting, graphics design, film, graphic novels, animation, directing, acting, drama, improv, poetry, stage design, dance (ballet, hip hop, jazz - the works), visual art, the lists goes on and on and on...
Somehow the church needs to make "room" for these artists. We need to champion them at every stage of development.
I'm certain when Baz and Oho started, everyone wanted their art. After all they were the "masters." They were the "real deal." But Baz and Oho made room for developing artists and gave them a chance to "spread their wings." The church has to do the same today.
Fourth and finally, all of this was not just about being "hip" and "cool." It was about the WORSHIP OF GOD! God wanted to be glorified, and He chose to gift a group of artists to create stuff that would inspire people to their hearts, heads, eyes and ears towards Him.
God wants that to happen every Sunday in your church! He wants your church to create moments of transcendence that lift people out of the muck and mire of the junk that tends to clutter our life and allow them to see God as sovereign and supreme above and over all!
Wow!
Here's my prayer from today's devotional: Oh God, please help us to lean into the creativity you want to inspire among us. You are good. You are God. You are great.
We long for you to birth gifts in our congregation that inspire people to honor You, to live for You, to glorify You, to exalt You!!!
Help us to never settle for easy, predictable, casual or status quo. Help us pursue YOU and all the gifts You want to impart and employ in Your church.
We are yours.
QUESTION: What kind of prayers are you praying when it comes to creativity, artistry and worship?
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