How to Lead When You're Behind the Scenes Sample

Day 1: Build

The Ark of the Covenant was and still is considered one of the most sacred relics of the Israelites. It was said to contain the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s (the brother of Moses) staff, and a pot of manna. Not only did it contain important reminders from Israel’s journey to the Promised Land, it was also where God would go to speak to His people. To this day, the Ark is something historians, treasure seekers, storytellers, and filmmakers love to discuss. Yet no one talks about the one who built it — the one behind the scenes.

Being behind the scenes gets a less than enthusiastic response from most people. And it is definitely not something we associate with leadership. The world has created this image of leaders: On some level, we expect them (and by extension us) to be known and seen. When we think of leaders in the Bible, we think of David, Moses, and Paul — people in the spotlight. But God isn’t looking for famous people; He’s looking for faithful people.

Not much is known about Bezalel except that he was a master craftsman. He was skilled in multiple disciplines of art, and God specifically chose him to build the Ark. Yet outside of a few chapters in Exodus, we never hear about Bezalel again. And while the Ark of the Covenant has an entire page on Wikipedia, its builder barely has a paragraph.

It seems fitting that Bezalel’s name means, “in the shadow of God.” His job was the definition of the phrase “behind the scenes.” But behind the scenes does not mean left behind. You can be overlooked by people and still seen by God.

Maybe you’ve felt hidden in the shadows. No one knows what you’re doing, much less your name. Your social media feed isn’t filled with likes or followers. Don't be discouraged.

When you prioritize faithfulness over fame, people might never know who you are, but they will feel the ripples of what you’re building. The Bible says the Israelites were so moved by what was being built they were inspired to take action. The people brought so many donations to Bezalel and his team, Moses had to tell them to stop.

How can you build what God has called you to in this season? What are some ways you can encourage yourself to keep going, even when you feel unseen?