God blesses those who follow his instructions and join him in his work. God especially empowered Bezalel, Oholiab, and others skilled in special crafts. He told them what he wanted, and they turned dreams into reality. 

Blessing is one of those words we use in a variety of contexts without great precision. It is acknowledgment with gratitude. It is the authoritative announcement of God’s favor. 

Max DePree wrote in Leadership is an Art, “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor.” This sounds like Moses’ role at Sinai. 

God gave instructions for much more than the Tabernacle and its specialized furnishings. He provided order. A mob of free slaves miraculously left Egypt. Freedom is a formidable reality for people who have always been told what to do and when to do it. Indeed, freedom makes many good things possible. It also throws open a wide door to many not-so-good things. 

God was providing the guidance the people needed to know how to live together in community, a community formed and destined for special service in a special place. They were not only the recipients of God’s blessings, they were to bless the whole world. 

We seek God’s blessings and favor on our lives and on the lives of those we love. One thing we can ask God for in this regard is to give us wisdom and dedication to do what he wants the way he wants those things done. This is to ask him for the wisdom to do what he blesses rather than asking him to bless what we do. 

How has God specially gifted you? What do you do better than ten thousand others? How can you use those gifts in such a manner that God’s inspection receives his blessing, his authoritative announcement of favor? 

This kind of work builds better lives, homes, and communities. 

Consider your life as the fusion of two funnels. One has the wide side turned toward heaven. This is us receiving God’s gifts and blessings. The second funnel turns the wide side toward others. This is us blessing others with all of the good things God has given us. 

How will you bless others today with the blessings God has given you?

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I will live a life God can bless and pass along all he gives me.

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Our Father, thank you for blessing each one of us more abundantly than we can perceive. Thank you for the privilege of joining you in building better lives, homes, and communities. Thank you for looking on us with favor. How could we not praise your name? How could we not express our thanks? Amen.