Wise-Hearted Ones: A Story in a Story with Jennifer Allen Craft
In the middle of what seems like dry details in the book of Exodus are actual people and lives. And in these dry lists about materials and labor is an incredible story. Here hidden in Exodus, we makers and artists find the root of our calling.
It's a story about art, and artists, design, and makers. This is the story of the Wise-Hearted ones, the ones who were called by name and by heart to construct the Tabernacle.
I’ve been thinking about this story at the end of Exodus for years. At first glance, it seems really boring. But when we dig deeper, we find it's such a rich, amazing story.
For 11 chapters of Exodus, God conveys His intricate plans for the building of the Tabernacle. From exact measurements to materials to specific artisans, God does not spare any details when communicating His design for this structure. It’s awe-inspiring and overwhelming.
Aesthetics Matter to God
This story of the Tabernacle starts as a love story. God wanted more than anything to be with His people. And his people needed to be with Him more than anything. They needed a place where they could approach God
and worship.
This wasn’t going to be any ordinary sanctuary or church building. This house of worship was designed entirely by God Himself, with a level of rich attention to detail that is unparalleled.
The Tabernacle was the physical center of life for the Israelites. It was where the presence of God would dwell with His people. Located in the middle of their living spaces, it was used daily for community worship and all kinds of gatherings. It was the seat of governance. Feasts, festivals, and rituals would be held. History would be made in this space.
It’s in the details of this story that we find a clue as to how God intended art to function with his people. He chose materials and design so specifically because he was creating an aesthetic structure to hold the Israelites together as God’s people. The aesthetic structure would shape their imaginations about the nature and character of God and the nature and character of His love for His people.
Creating Spaces for His Glory
So what does that mean for us as artists and culture makers today? The creation of the Tabernacle was different because of the call by God to make it. And because the Israelites were called to make a place for God to inhabit, the artists were serving in a priestly or prophetic way.
The Tabernacle was a way to communicate the blessings of God and call God’s people back into relationship with the God of love, forgiveness, acceptance, and rest — a true invitation to trust His method and timing. God determined the subject matter and material, but he still requires skilled artisans to accomplish the work.
We see that God designed art with an intended function — a structure for shaping, reinforcing, and maintaining our identity as God’s people. We’re called to be making space for God to inhabit just as the Israelites constructed a structure for the presence of the Divine to dwell.
Creating a “space” is broader than just building a physical space. It’s an act of hospitality — inviting Jesus to “tabernacle” with us. So, creating spaces is not limited to just a physical place but everything that contributes to the cultural ethos which we inhabit, including art, music, performance, story, images, poems, environments, ideas, games, and films.
Freedom to Create
This understanding should result in a creative call that spills out beyond any agenda on our parts as art makers or Christians. Like Bible teacher Marty Solomon said, God asks us to create a space that He will fill for His purposes. It’s God’s business to make the impact. But it is ours to make.
With this humility I find so much freedom to tell stories, write music, paint pictures, perform, create, and make with an intentional and prayerful approach. Anything I’m creating is space for God to fill. It’s a freedom-filled responsibility. A priestly call for us to create a space for the Divine.
I encourage you to read Exodus 25-30 with me as we dive into this together. You can hear more about how God uses design and beauty to draw us closer to Him in Episode 1 of “The Wise-Hearted Ones.” Listen here on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Be.Make.Do. is a Soulmakers podcast where we talk about what it takes to pursue your calling as a culture maker with spiritual wholeness and creative freedom. Host Lisa Smith shares her unique perspective gained from over 20 years of mentoring and ministering to artists.
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