Holy Spirit enables creativity in you!

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When some people in the Old Testament were said to have the Spirit of God, it simply meant that they had a God-given ability or competence or strength to do certain things for God or for his people. God’s Spirit empowered and enabled them to do what had to be done.

Bezalel and Oholiab. Now it’s very possible that you have never heard of the two gentlemen named Bezalel and Oholiab. But if you are interested in the Holy Spirit, you should have. For these are the first people in the Bible who are described as “filled with the Spirit of God.” 

Being filled with the Spirit is something many Christians aspire to, though not many Christians expect the experience to do for them what it did for Bezalel and Oholiab. 

What did the filling of God’s Spirit do in their lives? It enabled them to be craftsmen, working in metal and wood and precious stones, and all kinds of artistic design—and to be able to teach others the same skills. Here’s the account:
Then Moses said to the Israelites, “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. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers. So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded.” (Ex 35:30–36:1, my italics)

CREATIVITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVEN TO US
Putting these things together like this gives great dignity to such skills. The fact that on this first occasion when the Spirit of God, which had been so active in all the wonderful craftsmanship of creation itself, is said to fill a human being, it is to enable that person to exercise the same kinds of delegated skills is amazing.

There is something so wonderfully creative (and therefore God-like) in what this passage describes: craftsmanship, artistic design, embroidery with rich colors, carving wood and stone. We should take seriously that these things are said to be marks of the filling of God’s Spirit. 

Of course, Bezalel and Oholiab were so filled for the purpose of working on the tabernacle—the holy tent of God’s presence among his people. But we don’t need to limit the action of God’s Spirit in this gifting only to “sacred” purposes. Presumably Bezalel and Oholiab had and exercised these skills before and after they were employed in constructing the tabernacle. The creation narrative, portrays God himself as the universal master craftsman who rejoices in the goodness and beauty of all he has so wonderfully designed and executed. 

The creative Holy Spirit is still at work today
This text encourages us to believe that the same Spirit of God who was at work in creation is also at work in that same wider sense, in all those who, as human beings made in God’s image, enrich our world with all kinds of creativity in art, music, colorful design, beautiful craftsmanship and—adding this to console myself in at least one area of creative endeavor—skillful speech and writing. When we honor and admire such art, we give glory to the Spirit who empowers it.


Author: Wright, C. J. H. (2006). Knowing the Holy Spirit through the Old Testament (pp. 37–41). Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.

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