Bezalel

The word “hero” gets thrown around a lot. Most often it’s applied to people who do dangerous jobs for us, like soldiers and first responders. Sometimes we use it to describe people who challenge injustice, like Rosa Parks. Lately, a lot of people (many of them in the news business themselves) are calling journalists heroes.

The many ways we use the word, and increasing frequency with which we use it, raises questions about what it really means. What makes someone a hero? Is it just actions, or is there a moral standard too? Is it impact, or just a display of courage? And if it is action and impact, what kind?

I’m mulling these questions because this morning I want to use “hero” to describe Bezalel. I wrote about him last week, and read about him again today.

Last week I wrote about this, from, Exodus 35:30-34: “Then Moses said to the Israelites, ‘See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills — 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 artistic crafts. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.’”

Then today, Exodus 37: 1 starts a lengthy passage describing the things Bezalel did: “Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood . . . .”

Maybe superhero is a better word. His super-powers were extraordinary wisdom, knowledge and understanding, plus “all kinds of skills”, plus exceptional creativity, combined with the ability to pass it all on. Oh yeah, and he was filled with the Spirit of God.

This man and his sidekick Oholiab singlehandedly enabled the Israelites to accomplish what God commanded. God designed in detail every single aspect of the tabernacle, and every single feature of the articles that would go in it. He designed the priestly garments and the ephod and breastplate. But Bezalel was the guy God equipped to see it in his mind, to figure out how to do it, and then to make it understandable to all the workers. And to be able to make the first one of everything.

Out of all the nation of Israel, God called this one guy for extraordinary leadership during a time of great challenge. Bezalel successfully carried out the charge. In my mind’s eye, he looms as a hero, a stocky, bearded guy with strong, callused hands, patiently crafting and showing, capable of doing every single part of that project. He’d have made an amazing contractor. Or Lowe’s employee.

Bezalel is my current mental image of what happens when God invites us to join him in work. He calls, and then equips. And if we respond faithfully, wonderful things happen.