God’s Plans? God’s People! 神的计划？神的子民！
Dexu Xia
I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded. Exodus 31:6
Today's Scripture Exodus 31:1-6
Today's Insights Having given Moses a series of instructions for the people of Israel, God now begins to show him how these will be carried out (see Exodus 31:1-11). Many of these commands included plans for work that must be done. God equipped the people with the appropriate skills to complete His work, and Bezalel and Oholiab were to lead much of that effort.
According to scholar John D. Barry, Bezalel’s name can be literally interpreted “in the shadow of El [God]”—another way of saying that his gifts came from God. Barry notes that El was an older name for the Supreme Being, not the name of Yah that had only recently been revealed by God to His chosen people. Similarly, Oholiab’s name means “father is my tent.” This is fitting, as he would be designing the tent of meeting (see Exodus 26). As He did with Oholiab, God also enables us to accomplish the tasks He gives us.
Today's Devotional After I joined the board of trustees of a seminary, the long-term leader announced his retirement. I found myself among those tasked with searching for a new president. Together, we amassed a daunting list of qualifications. How would we find someone to fulfill such a complicated and vital role?
I wondered the same as I read God’s specifications for the tabernacle’s lampstand to be crafted of pure gold, with flower-like cups and almond flowers and six branches (Exodus 25:31-36). And the courtyard was “to have curtains of finely twisted linen, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts” (27:9-10). Who could fulfill such assignments? God answered, “I have chosen Bezalel . . . and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills . . . to engage in all kinds of crafts” (31:2-5). God also said, “I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you” (v. 6).
Where do we turn to fill a vacant role for a high-level leader, a volunteer at church or to orchestrate an event? To the God who calls and equips His people. God laid out an ambitious design for His temple. Then He chose and equipped His people to implement it. God’s answer to His plans is to equip God’s people to accomplish His Plan.
Reflect & Pray How have you seen God gift people to do His work? What has He equipped you to do?
Holy God, I look to You to choose and equip the people needed in my life, my church, and in my place of work.
Elisa Morgan
我已赐给所有技艺高超的工人能力，使他们能完成我所吩咐的一切。出埃及记 31:6
今日经文：出埃及记 31章1-6节
今日心得：神藉着摩西给以色列人一系列的指示后就开始说明，他当如何执行这些指示（见出埃及记 31:1-11）。其中许多指示都包含必须完成的工作计划。神使百姓具备适当的技能来完成祂的工作，而比撒列和亚何利亚伯则负责领导这项工作的大部分工作。根据学者约翰·D·巴里的说法，比撒列的名字字面意思是“在伊勒（神）的荫下”，换句话说，他的天赋来自神。巴里指出，伊勒是至高神的古老名称，而不是神最近才向祂的选民启示的“耶和华”的名字。同样，亚何利亚伯的名字意为“父亲是我的帐篷”。这很合适，因为他正在设计会幕（见出埃及记26章）。正如祂待亚何利亚伯一样，上帝也帮助我们完成祂交给我们的任务。
今日灵修 我加入一所神学院的董事会后，那位长期担任院长的就宣布退休了。我发现自己也参与了寻找新院长的工作。我们一起列出一份令人望而生畏的资格清单。我们如何才能找到能胜任如此复杂而重要的角色的人呢？当我读到上帝对会幕灯台的详细规定时，我也有同样的疑问：灯台要用纯金做，上面有花形的杯、杏花、六根枝子（出埃及记25:31-36）。院子“要用捻的细麻作幔子，柱子二十根，带卯的铜座二十个，柱子上的钩子和杆子是用银做的”（27:9-10）。谁能胜任这样的任务呢？神回答说：“我拣选了比撒列……又以我的灵充满了他，使他有智慧、聪明、知识，能做各样的工……能做各样的工”（31:2-5）。神还说：“我已赐给一切有智慧的工人能力，能做我所吩咐你的一切工”（6节）。我们当从何处寻找一位能填补高层领袖空缺的人？从何处寻找人填补教会志愿者的职位？当如何策划一个活动？我们当到那位呼召并装备祂子民的神那里去寻求。神为祂的圣殿制定了一个宏伟的计划。然后，祂拣选并装备祂的子民去实现它。神对祂的计划的回应，就是装备祂的子民来成就祂的计划。
反思与祷告 你看到神如何赐恩给人去做祂的工作？祂装备了你去做哪些事？ 圣洁的神，我仰望祢拣选并装备我生命中、教会中和工作场所中所需要的人。 艾丽莎·摩根