Oct 29 Devotion: Cunning Work of the Believer

Exodus 35: 35 – “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.”

In this passage, Moses is explaining how God had prepared wise and skillful men during their captivity in Egypt. This was significant because these men would teach others and apply their talents in the creation of the tabernacle of the wilderness, the Ark, the Mercy Seat, the High Preist’s garments, and everything that would be utilized in the ministrations on behalf of Israel in (and around) the tabernacle.

We do not have time, in this devotion, to delve into the symbolic representations that can be taken from the Tabernacle which for shadow those things which were to come. Suffice it to say, that much of the plan of salvation can be seen in the tabernacle of the wilderness and the instruments used in worship and sacrifice by God’s chosen people. I do want to draw your attention, however, to the quality that God expected, and had already prepared his people to perform, for the construction of the Tabernacle and other instruments. 

Numerous times throughout the book of Exodus, when referring to the quality of the items being made for the tabernacle, you will find the phrase “cunning work” used to describe it’s excellency. The word cunning means that the craftmanship was so detailed and of such quality that the average person who saw it would not be able to understand it was able to be constructed. It other words, it was so good that it blew people’s minds. People couldn’t understand how such a thing was possible.

If God expected this level of quality when setting forth the requirements for the temporary tabernacle for the wilderness, how much more cunning is the work that He performed at the moment of salvation? The tabernacle was a temporary meeting place for God’s people. Solomon’s temple was called the House of God so that the Lord would have a place among his chosen people. A Saint of God is the dwelling of the Almighty. You are sealed with the Spirit and God dwells in you. If God had such expectations of  craftsmanship for the temporary dwelling place of the wilderness, what sort of cunning work do you thing that the hand of God performed when he made you a new creature?

Everyday God continues to mold us more perfectly into the image of His Son. Your life should be evidenced with the very tool marks, craftsmanship and fingerprints of God. It is this cunning work that could not be made with human hands that is meant to provide justification of your claim that God had raised you from death in sin to life in Christ. Do not be intimidated into concealing the work of God in your life. Do not fear rejection from the world. Put God’s cunning work on display for all those that would inspect his handiwork. I can assure you that anyone who has an eye to inspect the work that God has done will walk away saying that only God could perform such a change in a person.

 If you know that you have tainted or resisted the work of God in your life, there is good news, also. If you yield yourself to the will of God, the work that he performs in you will also be a cunning work.

Your fellowservant in Christ, 

Bro. Jordan Foster