Focus – The Skilled Worker

Hey, I am glad you are here! I have prayed for you.

I am reading through the Bible in a year. I don’t do New Year resolutions anymore because on January 1st I wake up the same person I was when I went to sleep on December 31st. If I didn’t wake up at 5am and run a mile everyday before I went to sleep, that won’t suddenly change before the sunrises. But I digress. While I have stopped making New Year resolutions, I did see an idea that I did like as a New Year tradition. Setting a word for the year. A vibe for the year. A goal for the year. I prayed and the word that came to me was: FOCUS.

Focus. I struggle to focus. I call it multitasking but in reality, I am struggling to focus. I am typing with music on. Doing multiple things at once. I always have multiple tabs open, literally on my desktop, and figuratively in my mind. So, when the word “focus” came to mind, I knew it was necessary.

My goal is to focus on prayer, on my relationship with God, to be present with my family, to slow down, and live more in the moment.

In order for me to focus on my relationship with God, I must get to know Him better. What is the easiest way to get to know God? By reading the Word he has curated specially just for us.

So I am reading through a bible plan with the hopes to finish the entirety of the bible in a year in addition to my personal study.

Right now I’m reading in Exodus and I’m not gonna lie, it’s not an easy read. There are words I don’t understand, words that we don’t use anymore, ceremonies and traditions that we no longer practice, etc. . To be honest, I was skimming it at best. Confused as to why it was important for me to read about the exact dimensions and colors of the curtains in the tabernacle God was commanding Moses to build. But I KNEW it had to be important. If it wasn’t important, it wouldn’t have been included.

At one point, I opened up my Bible app, pressed play, and I was just letting it read it to me because I could not focus. I know crazy right? I was struggling to focus. Then my husband brought in the groceries, making it even harder to focus, I couldn’t hear my phone anymore so I paused it, and I started reading again.

I was reading Exodus 26-28 and a phrase stuck out of me. Slapped me in the face is more like it.

The phrases “skilled worker” and “skilled hands.”

Chapter 26 was discussing all of the specific instructions, measurements, colors, etc. of how the tabernacle should be build. Chapter 28 discussed the priestly garments that Aaron and his sons would wear. The garments were intended to set apart the priests from the other members of the congregation.

What do you think of when you think of a tabernacle? What about when you hear “priestly garments?”

Now, what do you think of when you think about The Tabernacle the Lord commanded Moses to build?

Before re-reading these passages, I hadn’t given much thought to any of it at all. I had always thought it was amazing how intricate God’s plan was. How obedient Moses had to be to ensure it was built correctly and how he must’ve been an amazing listener (there were a tremendous amount of instructions, he wasn’t really taking notes on his iPad). I vaguely remember a Sunday school lesson on them building the tabernacle when I was a kid.

This time, while I read these passages, I truly focused on God’s Word, and God spoke to me through His Word.

He showed me just how intricate and perfect His plan truly is.

You see, God’s plan for the tabernacle included the “skilled worker”, the “skilled hands.” How often do we consider the importance of the everyday job? An everyday, mundane, normal thing became an anointed calling.

Do you know what it takes to become a skilled worker or to have skilled hands? It takes time and dedication. Maybe studying in an apprenticeship, spending time as an intern. It takes YEARS become a skilled worker or to have skilled hands.

And what a calling God placed on their lives, something they may not even have realized at the time. In order for them to build the tabernacle, in order for them to create the garments for the priests, there were people set aside YEARS before to become skilled workers.

Because they took pride in their trade, their job, and developed “skilled hands” they were blessed to be a part of something much bigger than them. It was necessary for the skilled workers to build the tabernacle, to create the garments, in order for Moses to follow the command that God has placed before him.

If there wouldn’t have been dedicated workers, then God’s command would not have been fulfilled.

How often do we look over the skilled hands that create, mend, build, etc so many of the things we need and use in our everyday life?

Maybe you’re the person with the skilled hands. Maybe you are the skilled worker!

How are you using your skill(s) to further the kingdom of God?

Are you following the calling, God has placed on your life? Are you following His instruction?

God knew the skilled workers were already there, they had already done the work they needed to do. He didn’t give Moses a command he couldn’t follow. Moses simply needed to ensure the skilled workers were appointed where they were needed.

Remember if you feel you are unable or cannot do as God calls you, God has already made a way for you.