Exodus 31:6 NLT "And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant…”
Humans generally have superiority and inferiority complex. We usually find our value/worth in our functions/positions; that's why we treat the senior pastor, “Super stars” & CEO’s better than the cleaners (Assistants). We uphold “gifted people” like Bazelel whom Oholiab was an assistant to in:-
Exodus 31:2-5 NLT "Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah
God doesn’t have a superiority (and inferiority) complex like we do.
1. Christ washed disciples’ feet (John 13:5) even though He was their master; he was their servant.
Philippians 2:6-8 NLT Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. (7) Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, (8) He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.
2. Christ must have looked and behaved like those He led otherwise the religious leaders wouldn't have needed to bribe Judas to point Him out in a crowd: it would have been easy if he was the only guy who speaks and drives the best car, he would have been the guy with the body guards standing who always stands in front and with all women trying to get his attention, But
3. Though He was God, He submitted to us as our servant who suffered His whole life for us (Isiah 53 and the gospel of Mark highlights this).
4. God partners with us (2 Cor. 6:1) even if He is God ( All-knowing, perfect, all-powerful, complete without need).
Even as a sovereign Lord, He is still the most humble who even took advice from Moses and repented (exodus 32:14).
5. Even though Christ was (is) equal with the Father (Phil 2:6) but He submits to the Father.
I know that we usually jump to verse 22 of Ephesians 5 to command women to submit to husbands but verse 21 says:
NLT And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
We will discuss mutual submission in the future but let's dwell on the fact that submission is not due to importance/value but authority and functionality.
Ephesians 5:23 NLT For a husband is the head of His wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of His body, the church.
Because of the order of authority in the Theocracy of the Kingdom of God, women must submit to their men as heads and authority over them even though men and women are equal partners:-
1 Peter 3:7 NLT In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
Even though men and women are equal, the wife must submit to the Husband just like Christ who is equal to the father submits to Him. This is the order desired by God :-
1 Corinthians 11:3 NLT But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
Even though Christ’s name is above all names (obviously more than even the father’s) and He is the Creator of everything that exist (John 1:3), He still sees the Father as Superior
John 14:28 NLT “… I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.”
My point is: do not let positions and gifts let you think better or worse than your partner (s). Positions of authority or functions or gifts must not make one proud or have low-self-esteem. Men who are gifted in complicated areas like Bazalel must not treat their assistants like Oholiab as not anointed . We are the body of Christ with different gifts but we are all anointed (1Cor 12:11) by the Spirit and equal, so we should not envy or undermine one another because of the positions or functions we do in the body:-
Romans 12:3-6 NLT Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. (4) Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, (5) so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. (6) In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
Finally, IN FACT the people we regard as less important or the behind the scene (not seen) people are actually the most necessary
1 Corinthians 12 (22) IN FACT, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. (23) And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should NOT BE SEEN,
(also Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-25 )
So don’t feel less important or intimidated when you are “just” an assistant to a powerful anointed, gifted or talented man/woman.
The only reason why the gifts were distributed the way they are:- is because that it is the will of God for His own purpose; and that besides, if we were all an eye how would the body function?
1 Corinthians 12:17 NLT (17) If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
So if you are an assistant, you are anointed with the same Spirit as the one you assist (1 Cor 12:11) and therefore you should behave like it but with submission to authority!
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