Last time, I wrote about how close God is to us in our daily lives. It is really hard for most of us to really embrace that idea. It is easier to believe, if we believe at all, in a God who is in His heaven while we are on earth and that there is a great gulf between the two "places." But all of Scripture, from the beginning to the end shows the opposite -- it reveals God in search of man, God who wants to be "closer than a brother," God who wants to espouse His people, to be part of their daily lives, to embrace them in a marital hug, to "tabernacle" with them, or to dwell in their midst.
In Exodus, we see a God who, having delivered His people from slavery in Egypt, wants to dwell with them in the desert, so He commands them to build Him a "tent of meeting," where they can go and meet with Him. In Chapter 31, the Lord says to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel....and I have filled him with the Spirit of Practical Wisdom, 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 craftsmanship. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab...to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you; the Tent of Meeting, the Ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent... and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place."
[Note: The term 'Spirit of Practical Wisdom" is from the Living Bible, which is a paraphrase of the original text. Most bibles read "the Spirit of God" in this passage.] However, the translation here brings home how close the "Spirit of God" is to our daily lives. God is not in His heaven observing our lives and behaviors; in Jesus Christ, He has willed to "dwell among us" and to enter into our endeavors --- even to directing them, if we will allow Him. In Revelation 3, Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; to anyone who opens, I will come in and sup with him, and he with Me." He wants to partake of our daily lives/ eat of our bread and meat/, even as He offers us His daily bread and meat.
Just now, I am preparing for a trip to Japan. Of course, with my health conditions, I have been in prayer about the wisdom of taking such a long journey. I am willing to go or not to go, but I feel I need direction before striking out on my own, especially now. In the meantime, I am packing my bags so that I will be ready to go, even knowing that I may have to unpack them in case the Spirit directs otherwise. I have a very small tote bag which fits over the handle of my carry-on suitcase. That small case holds all my medicine, along with digestive enzymes I must take with each meal, and emergency supplies for such a long trip --- including benedryll in case I accidently ingest peanuts or some other allegen that seriously affects my body. All of these things must be close at hand in case of emergency -- they cannot be stuffed in an overhead bin.
The problem is that the bag I have is just a bit too small for the supplies I need immediately. It is convenient, but not quite large enough. On my way home from the dentist, I felt a nudge in my spirit to check out the Goodwill store on my way home. Now Goodwill carries loads of purses, backpacks, and tote bags --- but none of them have trolley straps that allow you to attach them to your luggage, so my reaction to the "nudge" was, "No, they never have anything like that; I've looked before." Still, the urge to stop was so strong that I gave in --- and what did I find but the perfect bag, part of a three-piece set of luggage! The 3rd piece was exactly what I needed --- small enough to have with me on the plane, large enough for all my supplies! I couldn't believe it! And I almost passed it by for lack of belief in the Spirit of Practical Wisdom!
I guess if God cares enough to supply me with the exact tote bag I need, He cares enough to guide my journey along the way! I think that if we yield to Him on a daily basis (maybe by praying with our hands gently upturned on our laps as a sign of our acceptance of His guidance), we might begin to experience in our daily lives His Spirit of Practical Wisdom.
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