CRAFT

Exodus 35:30-33: "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 engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship."

Exodus 37:20-22: "And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. One bud was under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under a third pair--six branches in all. The buds and the branches were all one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold."

Matthew 10:30-31: "And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

God is concerned with the details. We all know a tool, an item of furniture, or an artwork is well-crafted by the attention its maker pays to the details. A quality shirt possesses double-stitching and pin-point weaving. Beautiful objects have care put into them. The artist who undertakes to learn from Michelangelo may spend days just studying the hands of the Pieta'. Equally in life, God as a craftsman, is concerned with the most minute moments of our lives because, like great works of art, they have beauty in their details. Engaging craft means paying attention to the way something is constructed; it means noticing the skillful form it takes.  When we spend time enjoying the craft of fiction and poetry or the careful observations of daily life in a diary, we are mirroring a bit of God's own love of the small stuff.

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Central Insight: The skill and beauty of literature are an expression of God's love of craft.

Suggestions for Application: Give a moderately detailed explanation of a particularly well-written passage: highlight word usage, description, or character description.   Be sure to reflect on the value of craft.