Change the ‘him’ to ‘her’

Feb 24

Angeline sits at a table as she is painting in her bible by her kitchen window

“See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship.”
— Exodus 31:2–3 (ESV)

As an artist, I have always loved this verse.

It is the first place in Scripture where we see God explicitly fill someone with His Spirit for the purpose of making art. Not preaching. Not leading armies. Not performing miracles. But for craftmanship, skill, creative intelligence.

And if I’m honest, I have returned to this verse many times when I’ve quietly wondered whether my work actually mattered in the kingdom of God. Was the work that I was doing with watercolor even significant anymore since there are SO MANY out there that teach it? Was this even pleasing to my Holy Father or was I just making an excuse to do what I wanted to do? It’s hard when you are faced with seasons when art feels sacred and other times, when it feels so small.

I think many creatives carry this question privately.

We see pastors, missionaries, teachers, and workship leaders all as roles that feel visibly “spiritual.” And then there is us: the creatives. We mix colors, paint, letter scripture, and try to make people see the beauty of God’s work in a fallen world. We love it.

But I can’t help but sometimes wonder if God delights in the work that I do or if he merely tolerates it.

This past Saturday, I was practicing my form of Sabbath. If you are wondering what that is, I will be sure to explain it in more detail in the future, but basically it is a full 24 hours that I refrain from doing work, stay away from excessive time on digital world (streaming, tv, computer, and my phone…no social media!), and just rest in the presence of God.

Everyone was quietly preoccupied with their favorite things to do, so I grabbed my interleaved bible and my watercolor paints to do a bit of creative worship. And out of nowhere, this verse surfaced in my spirit yet again.

Exodus 31.

Bezalel.

Filled with the Spirit of God.

I feel like I have been here before, God. Why am I returning to this?

But just as quick as the thought left my mind, I was already convinced and started painting some watercolor florals on the blank page.

And when I finished and was reaching for my calligraphy pen to do some lettering, I felt it. No, I HEARD it. A a gentle, not loud or forceful, nudge.

“Change the ‘him’ to ‘her.’”

I hesitated. Scripture is sacred. Believe me. In eight years that I have been bible journaling, I don’t take altering words lightly. But the Holy Ghost kept pushing and for some reason I just knew this wasn’t about rewriting God’s words. It was about receiving it.

I took a deep breath in, shrugged my shoulders and started brush lettering the verse.

“…and I have filled her with the Spirit of God…”

The moment I wrote the word “her,” something inside me broke open. Tears came streaming down my face before I could even stop them.

And I sensed the Holy Ghost whisper, so clearly:

“It matters.”

Not in a loud way, but in a fatherly way. Like a gentle squeeze on my shoulder by the hand of the one who gave his life up for me. And in that moment I knew I was being held and seen.

Bezalel was specifically and intentionally called by name. And what struck me in that moment was this:

God is not random with gifts.

He does not casually distribute ability or accidentally wire someone toward craftsmanship. And he does not fill someone with creative intelligence without purpose.

The same Spirit who empowers preaching empowered craftsmanship.

The same Spirit who parted seas empowered design.

The same Spirit who hovered over creation empowers creation in us.

And when I wrote “her,” I wasn’t replacing Bezalel. I was remembering that the Spirit still fills people for creative work. And that includes every single one of us.

Sure, Maybe you are not an artist. Maybe you are a writer. A baker. A homemaker. A designer. An engineer. A teacher. A mother.

But if God has filled you with ability, it absolutely matters. If you feel pulled toward work that feels “too small” to be spiritual, you must pause and ask Him first.

He may whisper what He whispered to me: “It matters.”

Not because it’s impressive in the sense that the world measures. But because it’s obedient.

And obedience is always sacred.