Holy Trinity Sunday (OT)

Exodus 31:1-11

The Lord said to Moses, ² “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³ and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, ⁴ to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, ⁵ in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. ⁶ And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: ⁷ the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, ⁸ the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, ⁹ and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, ¹⁰ and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, ¹¹ and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”

This text seems a little out of place. It seems a little like it should be on Mission festival Sunday and maybe it should. You have these two people whom God has given the ability and intelligence to preform the task God has presented to all his people. These two individuals are the craftsmen who will help to build his “Church” and its “priests.”

I feel like I could take a stretch and talk about how God has appointed, begot his Son and proceeded the Holy Spirit to do this same task. The Father Son and Holy Spirit, together, are building the Church and making priests. But this does not seem like this is what the text is saying.

God has given each of us certain abilities. He gave to these people the special ability to build, fashion, these various things necessary for the Tabernacle and the place where God will find himself. Likewise, God gives us abilities to do what God desires for each of us to do.

There is a hymn that says we can not all preach like Paul. But that does not mean that we can not defend the faith and proclaim the faith in our lives. I am not going to talk about ability to build or even your vocation. I am talking about God opening up your eyes to the truth.

God has taken blind people and made them to see. God has given you sight through the Word to see your salvation in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit continues to strengthen you as you read and digest this word. The Father loves you and desires for you to be saved. This is not of your own reason or strength but by the Holy Spirit calling, gathering, and strengthening you in the one true faith.