Bezalel – Master of Technology
In the book of Exodus, we are introduced to a very fascinating character – Bezalel. Moses, the Man of God came forward to make a public declaration that Bezalel had been specially chosen by God for an assignment. The nature of the assignment was odd. Quite odd.
“Then Moses told the people of Israel, "The Lord has specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. The Lord has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft. 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. The Lord has given them special skills as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth, and weavers. They excel as craftsmen and as designers.” Exodus 35:30-35 (NLT)
Normally, in Christian circles, when we talk about God’s calling and divine appointment upon someone’s life, it is always about what we call “five- fold” offices. This has been so preached in our churches over many centuries that today, anybody working in the Lord’s vineyard has to identify their calling among the five-fold or be branded an heretic.
Yet, in this passage, we are introduced to Bezalel, who had a special anointing, not to raise the dead or rain down fire upon God’s enemies, but rather a special empowerment to work with all forms of technology available in his days. He and his team also had the ability to teach the same skills to others.
The calling and purpose for his gifts clearly stated also. He was to build out all the artefacts and technology that would be needed going forward. God needed a man that could do that and he directly called Bezalel and released a special anointing upon the man that would get it done.
God called Moses, God called Bezalel too. Moses did not call Bezalel, God directly appointed Bezalel. Bezalel’s calling was as valid as the senior man’s calling, not inferior to each other, but vastly different from each other because the purpose of God for them was totally different.
I think there is a lot we can learn from this story, first of all, we need to be very explicit and state clearly that the reason he could even get such gifting and anointing in the first place is because God is the source of creativity, invention, knowledge and science. You cannot give what you do not have.
Certain people have convinced themselves that technology is evil and they would have nothing to do with it, and once they embrace that mind-set, they miss out on a key and fundamental nature of God – creativity and invention.
Moses and Bezalel had to work together as a team to fully implement the divine plan unfolding ahead of them. The Prophet had his own assignment to pray and fast and receive the laws from heaven. Bezalel had his own aspect of working out the things they needed to build in order to complete the assignment.
Whenever problems and challenges arise, God will send someone with a calling to handle it. The person will be equipped with whatever it takes to solve such problems. We need the power of God if we want to solve the problems of mankind.
There are diverse kinds of problems around the world today including spiritual darkness, poverty, disease and famine. Some of these problems will be solved through the ministry of the famous five-fold offices, some of them will be solved by people channelling God’s powers through other endeavours.
We need to realise that with all due respect, you do not send a Pastor when the problem at hand requires engineering prowess. Salvation is not the only thing God has to offer us, and it is not the only problem that God is interested in solving. So, it is very valid for someone to feel called to build, devise and invent solutions to chronic problems in our society.
You do not orchestrate an economic turnaround in a third world country by simply holding national prayer and fasting marathon events. In ancient Egypt, after Joseph had divined the coming economic opportunity and recession, they went on to devise and implement a formidable fourteen (14) year economic plan that worked beautifully well.
Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: to those whose gift is invention, let them invent according to the proportion of their faith. Many of the inventors I studied attributed their often odd, unique insights to divine inspiration.
Sir Isaac Newton, was a seventeenth century English mathematician, physicist, and astronomer (actually described in his own day as a "natural philosopher") who is widely recognised as one of the most influential scientists of all time, and a key figure in the scientific revolution. I think we can consider God to have worked wonders and miracles through Sir Isaac Newton’s work which resulted in things like, developing the theory of gravity, the laws of motion (which became the basis for physics), a new type of mathematics called calculus, and made breakthroughs in the area of optics such as the reflecting telescope.
He developed a gift for discovery unlike any other, it simply dawned on him that the same force that acted upon an apple; causing it to drop when ripe was also responsible for keeping the moon and planets in orbit. That simple insight led to so many breakthroughs and took our civilisation to the next level.
Isaac Newton also wrote a number of Christian books, because beyond maths and physics, he was also a theologian.
Nikola Tesla, another larger-than-life inventor wrote in his autobiography; “My Inventions” that “The gift of mental power comes from God, Divine Being, and if we concentrate our minds on that truth, we become in tune with this great power. My Mother had taught me to seek all truth in the Bible”.
These men and women, just like Bezalel, were ordinary people unto whom God’s word came and then they were moved towards applying their creativity and inventiveness towards discovery of new knowledge that could be applied towards making the world a better place.
I certainly hope to convince you that creativity and invention is of God and that anybody – even you can tap into that aspect of divinity. It is who you are! You just need to accept it, and begin to take your first baby steps in walking in this reality that you have access to the same creative Core that so many creators and inventors have spoken about.
We are looking for new masters of technology, someone that will wait upon God to discover what is next, and develop their mind and capacity enough to build it. I believe you might just be the person we have been waiting for.