Trusting God To Guide Others

 When Moses first led the Israelites out of Egypt, he had tried to personally take care of everything.  His father-in-law advised him to teach others and let them take care of the minor day to day affairs so that he could focus on things that actually needed his attention.  Moses had to learn to trust God to guide other people to do their jobs.  When they were attacked by the Amalekites, Moses had sent Joshua to lead the army while he, Aaron and Hur went up to pray.  Had he been leading the army, Moses could not have focused on pryer, and it was his prayer that made the difference in the battle. 

 

When they got ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave the plans to Moses, but he gave orders that Bezaleel and Aholiab were to oversee the construction while Moses was to focus on leading the people, according to Exodus 31:1-6.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.  And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee.”

 

God had called Bezaleel and Aholiab to oversee building the Tabernacle just as clearly as he had called Moses to lead Israel.  He had given them special skills and training just as he had given Moses special training for his job.  In Christian circles, it is very common to think only pastors missionaries or evangelists are called of God, when in fact, that carpenter, mechanic, teacher, or janitor may have a specific a calling as well because their particular skills are needed.  I Corinthians 12:28 tells us, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

 

Believing that they would be guided by God, Moses turned the construction over to them, explaining his decision to the people in Exodus 35:30-35.  “And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.  And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.  Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.”

 

A vital part of faith is learning to focus on what god has commanded us to do and trusting him to guide others he has chosen in doing their jobs.  When we begin to try to control or micromanage people we exhibit a lack of faith in god’s ability to guide other people.  Moses left the construction of the Tabernacle up to the men God had chosen, in Exodus 36:1-4.  “Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.  And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it: And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.”

 

God can cause even people who are not really devoted to him to do what is needed.  Even the people who had grumbled over the lack of water and gone along with worshipping the golden calf began to donate the necessary materials.  It wasn’t long before they had to ask the people to stop giving as they had too much, as we see in Exodus 36:4-7.  “And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made; And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.

 

And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.  For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.”  When Moses just trusted god, they had more than enough.  How many times have we heard a modern pastor or leader say we have too much? 

 

When He trusted God to direct them they did things exactly as God directed, according to Exodus 39:42-43.  “According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.  And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.”  Had Moses tried to control everything, it is nearly certain things would not have turned out as well, because God had not given him the special skills and understandings that were needed. 

 

Living by faith demands that we trust God to guide other people instead of trying to control everything around us.  A sense that we have to be in control demonstrates a lack of faith.