by Jenny Cote

I know what you’re thinking. “That title is in the wrong order! It should be, ‘Ready, Willing and Able to Write.’” 

No, smarty pants writer, the title is correct, according to God’s divine order of things. I’ll prove it to you.

But first, let’s all give a rousing hand of applause for Bezalel and Oholiab! Their work was second to none, don’t you agree? 

You don’t know who I’m talking about, do you? The chief architect and his right-hand man who built the very first Tabernacle and all the stuff that went inside, like the Ark of the Covenant (as featured in Indiana Jones)—those guys?

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have CHOSEN Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have FILLED him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of SKILLS – to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to HELP him. Also, I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you…” (Exodus 31:1-6)

Check out this next part: “Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability AND who was WILLING to come and do the work.” (Exodus 36:2, emphasis mine.)

Bez was chosen, filled, equipped with skills and help to pull off a monumental task, but he, Oho and all the others had to be WILLING before they were READY to do the work. It didn’t matter how gifted they were. They couldn’t do any of the work unless the people willingly gave these able and willing artisans the materials they needed. Once those offerings poured in, Bez and Oho were READY to do the work. They were able, willing, and ready. 

The first thing I thought of when I read these chapters in Exodus was you, the writer. So often I see the glimmer of excitement in the eyes of an aspiring writer as they share the vision of the work God gave them. It sounds great but it all stops at lofty words about an idea of what to write. Those eyes then fill with discouragement and defeat. There’s an unwillingness to do the hard work that writing requires to see the vision to completion, either from a lack of confidence or from not knowing how to proceed. 

Do you think God gave you a writing vision to give you joy and bring Him glory, or to fill you with defeat and discouragement? The God I follow is too kind to put into the heart of a writer a vision that can’t be realized. “Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?” (Isaiah 66:9)

But it requires doing things in the right order, and with the understanding that if God calls you to it, He will equip you for it.  It matters not if you begin with an awesome platform, or if you’re an obscure unknown in the writing world. This writing work is first between you and God. If He intends for it to be shared with the world, He’ll show you exactly what to do.

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia in Rabbinical Literature, “Bezalel possessed such great wisdom that he could combine those letters of the alphabet with which heaven and earth were created; this being the meaning of the statement (Exodus 31:3): “I have filled him . . . with wisdom and knowledge,” which were the implements by means of which God created the world as stated in Prov.3:19-20. …The candlestick of the sanctuary was of so complicated a nature that Moses could not comprehend it, although God twice showed him a heavenly model; but when he described it to Bezalel, the latter understood immediately, and made it at once…”

Rabbi Avi Weinstein writes, “Bezalel’s wise-heartedness was his ability to merge the practical with the contemplative. Bezalel, the wisest of the wise-hearted commandeered a formidable force allowing room for the creative spirit within a collective structure. He not only had common sense, he also had uncommonly brought the senses of all wise-hearted individual artisans to collectively create a magnificent home.”

Rabbi Levi Avtzon writes about Oholiab who was “of the tribe of Dan, of the lowest of the tribes, of the sons of the handmaidens (Bilhah). Yet G‑d compared him to Bezalel for the work of the Tabernacle, and Bezalel was of the greatest of the tribes [Judah]…What a beautiful thought. A representative of the highest of the tribes joined forces with a representative of the lowest of tribes to represent equality and companionship.

“There are times when G‑dly inspiration comes to an individual for the sake of his own wisdom or for his own prophecy. Then there are times when the inspiration is in such abundance that the person is merely a vehicle through which the light passes on to others. In our case, Bezalel was so filled with inspiration that it overflowed to Oholiab, who was a ready and worthy recipient, and from him, it flowed to all the others. Oholiab was the vessel through which the Divine inspiration for building the Tabernacle flowed forth to all the builders and craftsmen. Oholiab’s message is one of empowerment: G‑d gives each of us the opportunity and mission to build a home for Him. We can become the beginning of our lineage. Oholiab might not have come from the highest ‘stock,’ but it was he who was vice architect of the Tabernacle, and it was his descendant who took part in the building of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. Our past truly doesn’t define us.”

Moses couldn’t make a menorah. He couldn’t even get it in his head what it looked like, even after God described it to him twice. But Bezalel? One time and BOOM, it’s done. God didn’t call or equip Moses to make a menorah. That was reserved for Bezalel. Bezalel is the one God equipped with vision, skills, help and resources to create it. And Bezalel combined a vision with commonsense practicality to make it a reality. 

I can’t write your vision. I can only write the vision that God has given me. You are the one that God has called and equipped with the skills to write it. God will help you with people and resources to see your vision become a reality. But you must be willing to learn, do and implement the vision before you’re ready to write. 

Halley’s NIV Bible Commentary for these verses about Bezalel and Oholiab says that, “Not only was ability required for service in building the tabernacle. God also wanted willing hearts (Exodus 36:2). Even if we do not feel we are particularly good at anything, we must remember that every talent we possess, no matter how small, is a gift from God. He gives us these gifts so that we will have something to give back to him.” 

Later, after the work had finally been completed and the Tabernacle erected with its shiny new menorah, Bezalel and Oholiab were met with a rousing round of applause in Chapter 38. Halley’s continues: “Neither of these individuals ever became celebrities, but God does not measure our effectiveness in his kingdom work by how many times we make the headlines in the local media. God cares about whether we obey him faithfully, not whether other people approve of us. It is easy to make verbal commitments that sound good, but God isn’t looking for fine words. He complimented Bezalel and Oholiab on finishing their assignment, not on their fine start or their good intentions (39:43).” 

Bezalel is said to have been only thirteen years of age when he did this great work for the Lord. And do you know what his name means? In the shadow (protection) of God. 

You may be a young writer, either in age or experience. But if you stay close in the shadow of God and answer the call to the vision He has given and equipped you for, you can “combine those letters of the alphabet with which heaven and earth were created” and make something beautiful to shine light in the world. Don’t settle for just a fine start or good intentions with your writing vision. You’re able. Once you’re truly willing, you’ll be ready to write. 

Author and Speaker Jenny L. Cote is the creator of eight award-winning books in The Amazing Tales of Max and Liz and Epic Order of the Seven series. These historical fantasy fiction novels make Biblical and world history come alive with talking animals that go through time. Jenny lives with her husband and two main characters in Roswell, Ga. Learn more at www.epicorderoftheseven.com and Jenny L. Cote on Facebook.