Genesis 1:1-4 says, ‘In the beginning when God created the universe, the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness and the Spirit of God was moving on the water. And then God commanded, “Let there be light” and light appeared, and God was pleased with what He saw.’ Our God is a Creator.
We all have creative ideas. God blesses us and gives us the ability to be innovative. In Exodus 35:30-35, we see that by the power of His Holy Spirit, men were able to be extremely skilled and creative:
‘Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.’
We see a more modern example of God-inspired creativity in the 1500s. In 1508, the Italian artist Michelangelo began to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The chapel was built in the Vatican in 1477, which was the city state in Rome. It was finally completed in 1480, which was very fast for a building of its size. The fresco, or mural, was and still is a cornerstone work of High Renaissance art. The ceiling forms various painted elements that form part of the chapel’s narrative story depicting Biblical themes like Adam and Eve, scenes from the book of Genesis, Noah, the twelve disciples, classical myths, and other historical icons.
This amazing work has been described by some as a ‘complex and unusual iconographic depiction of our human condition’. I don’t think Michelangelo could have created such a great work of art as the Sistine Chapel or any of his other works, like the sculpture of David, were it not for his talent being imbued by God. Like the Bible authors, God used Michelangelo to make art that would highlight His wonderful story; it was God-inspired.
What art inspires you? Have you made something yourself that you believe to have been inspired by God?
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