Friday, March 31, 2017

Exodus 31

Exodus 31 is a short chapter, but the very first verse got me thinking.

31 The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. 

So God has specifically called Bezalel to lead the work of building the tabernacle. The scriptures specifically state that he was "filled...with the Spirit of God," but not in the same sense as in the New Testament.  Or is it?  So what does it mean to be filled with the Spirit of God?  I guess the thing I've always been wrapped around the axle about is how does being filled with the Spirit equate to salvation?  I would think that a person that was filled with the Spirit would at least need to be walking with God--going towards God and not away from Him.  But is this like a touch from God, or does the Spirit abide with them?  Obviously the person doesn't lose the talents, but can they "grieve the Spirit" and have him depart?  Does grieving the Spirit necessarily imply that it leaves a person?

I'm not sure that you can draw parallels from the New Testament movements of the Spirit and the Old Testament or not.

1 comment:

  1. Jesus said He the HOly Spirit may abide with us forever John 14:16. and God said He would never leave us nor forsake us Heb 13:5. In Gen 28:15 God told the Israelites He would not leave them until He had done what He had spoken to them then He told them the same again in Deut 31:6. As far as drawing parallels between old and new testament movements of the Holy Spirit... Isn't He God, who can do again what He has done before, or something similar, or something new altogether? He is huge, his ways are past finding out... and yet He wants to and will reveal them to us..<3 <3.

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