True Rest

God provides the means

Exodus 31:1–11 NIV

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent—the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand—and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”

God provided the plans for the tabernacle down to the measurement of each furnishing. Then he equips skilled workers with the wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skill to do the job.

God has made the plans for our lives, Jeremiah 29:11. Why do we struggle so much believing that the Lord has equipped us for complete His plans?

In God is our provision

Exodus 31:12–18 NIV

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. “ ‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’ ” When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

God states that the sign of the people that they have placed their faith and trust in the covenant of God is to rest.

True rest comes only from the Lord for it is greater than just physical, spiritual or mental. Rest in the Lord is a complete rest.

The picture in observing the Sabbath is the picture of complete faith and trust in the builder, the One who constructed it all.

Can we trust that the Lord has fashioned the perfect plan? Can we trust that the Lord has equipped us with the knowledge, wisdom, understanding and skill to carry out His plan? Can we trust that He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it? Can we place our faith in God?