One of the greatest artists to ever walk this earth was Michelangelo, a man who claimed that “true works of art are but a shadow of the divine perfection.” Where would Michelangelo have been, had it not been for the blessing of art? Once he admitted, “Many believe—I believe—that I have been designated for this work by God.”
Why did God give us art? Why did God include beauty, color, and form in his creation? Why does God bless some individuals with special gifts in music, sculpting, architecture, and craftsmanship? To be sure, artistic beauty was not something that evolved or that man devised, it was an integral, planned part of God’s creation.
This becomes especially apparent when we hear the account of Bezalel, an artist few recognize by name but one whose superior craftsmanship was enjoyed by thousands.
We first meet Bezalel in Exodus chapter 31: “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have chosen Bezalel . . . and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—to make artisitic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship’” (verses 1-5). Bezalel was commissioned to oversee the artistic workmanship of the beautiful tabernacle, the house of God that was used throughout the wilderness wanderings. No doubt he was a very talented man because we read that his gifts were given to him by God. Being chosen was a great honor for Bezalel, and he did his work faithfully. What occupied Bezalel’s mind? No doubt he had the same thoughts that artists and craftsmen do today. He pondered shape, color, aesthetics, beauty, and perfection.
Bezalel was by no means the only one in Scripture who was blessed with special gifts in arts and crafts. The Bible makes repeated reference to carpenters, carvers, coppersmiths, dyers, engravers, embroiderers, goldsmiths, painters, musicians, silversmiths, stonecutters, and weavers. Just as God gave special talents to each of these, so he gives each of us special gifts today. The same empowering Spirit blesses some people today with eyes, hands, and minds used for the making of beautiful things.
Yet only that which is done through the guidance of the Spirit will be pleasing to God. Just 22 verses after the calling of Bezalel, we find the talent of craftsmanship used for the service of Satan: “[Aaron] took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt’” (32:4). As with all of God’s blessings, the gift of artistic expression can be used for evil. How many times haven’t we heard the excuse that sinful portrayals are to be accepted because they are art.
We should thank God for giving us a world of beauty and art. We should praise the Lord for the ability to hear sweet sounds, appreciate beautiful sunsets, and feel soft things. We should show our gratitude toward those who have been given special gifts to mold and shape God’s world into a pleasant place to be. And we should look forward to the day when we will see beauty beyond imagination, in a place where the walls are of jasper, the foundations of precious stones, the gates of pearl, and the streets of pure gold. Then we will have the veil of sin that clouds pure beauty from our eyes removed, and we will be exposed to the awesome beauty of sound and sight as designed by the Master Craftsman.
Prayer thought: Thank God for the wonderful blessing of art.
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