From the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem
'"See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts -- 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 artistic craftsmanship.'" [Exodus 35:30-33]
Bezalel is the lead artist/craftsman on the Tabernacle project. What's that like?
I wonder what it's like crafting the Ark of the Covenant? The place where God presence was...? Wonder if he made any mistakes and had to start over? Again. And again. And again. "Until I get it right!"
I mean, it had to be perfect, right? I'm sure Ol' Bezalel was quite the perfectionist. Was he difficult to live with, too? Was his wife excited, at first, that her husband had landed such a big public piece of work and then did her enthusiasm wane when he became obsessed with the project, waking up late at night and getting out of bed to pace the backyard thinking about it? Were his in-laws proud for the first time that their no-account-chair-making-fabric-weaving-wall-covering son-in-law had finally made good?
I'm sure it changed his life forever. Was it a blessing and a curse? Did everything he did after that fall short? Did he die wandering in the desert, hoping that one day he would reach the Promised Land and build a home, a public plaza, a fountain, a permanent temple for the Lord?
We have only one moment in Bezalel's story and I can't help but wondering about the rest of his life....
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