May 1st, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Creativity and Time

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Father, I love You with all that is within me and I thank You for Your great goodness and grace.

Read Exodus 31:1-18

[1] Then the LORD said to Moses, [2] “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, [3] and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- [4] to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, [5] to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. [6] 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: [7] the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent- [8] the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, [9] the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand- [10] and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, [11] and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.” [12] Then the LORD said to Moses, [13] “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. [14] “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. [15] For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. [16] The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. [17] It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'” [18] When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable&#8212if anything is excellent or praiseworthy&#8212think about such things” (Phil. 4:8).

Think Further

Skill in art and craft is God’s gift (3). Bezalel and Oholiab used their gifts in God’s service. Still today, artists, musicians and craftspeople use their gifts for the church, creating the means to help people to worship. Their skill is more right brain than left, but we need help to apprehend God with more than just our minds. The tabernacle artisans created things which would be made holy. Such objects are not imbued with divine spirit or supernatural power. They have been made holy, set apart to assist people to focus on spiritual things.

I recently recovered from major cancer surgery. I was given a wooden cross, beautifully carved to fit comfortably in my hand. My friend made it holy, setting it apart for a purpose: to assist me to know God’s presence. There was nothing supernatural about it. It did not contain God, but in the darkest hours when my intellect was not functioning well and my thoughts were unguarded, its comfortable solidity helped me refocus and sense again the presence of God.

Finally, a holy day, a set-apart day—but, as Jesus said, we were not created for the Sabbath; rather, the Sabbath is for our benefit (Mark 2:27). Ex-slaves needed to know that life was not only about labor. Still, today we have workaholism and other self-absorbing obsessions which deny us “rest”; that is, time and space which is holy, set apart for God. In this modern world, few people keep the literal Sabbath. Few deny themselves such things as electricity or tap water, which workers must produce. But we must all strive to keep the spirit of the Sabbath, to make holy times and spaces which we set apart for worship, fellowship and prayer—and even perhaps for rest.

Apply

Have you built into your life a regular time for refreshment and remembrance of God? If not, decide how to do so now.

Closing prayer

Lord, the world and its pressures constantly distract me. Help me to create time and space to think of You and listen to Your voice.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store