{"id":20223,"date":"2022-02-10T11:00:33","date_gmt":"2022-02-10T18:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/exodus-30_17-38-copy\/"},"modified":"2022-02-11T11:48:41","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T18:48:41","slug":"exodus-31_1-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/exodus-31_1-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Chosen for God\u2019s Work + 5 Reasons God Wants You to Rest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exodus \u00a031:1-18\u00a0 Click here for Bible Verses<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs!<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is Exodus 31:1-18.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

Exodus 31:1-11 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n1\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then the\u00a0LORD\u00a0said to Moses,
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts–
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you:
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent–
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense,
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand–
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests,
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 1-11:\u00a0 Could God have created the artistic designs and done all the work himself for the tabernacle?\u00a0 Of course He could have.\u00a0 God could have spoken these things into existence in an instant.\u00a0 Yet He chose to involve Moses, Bezalel, Oholiab and a bunch of unnamed craftsmen in the designing and making of the items that would form the tabernacle.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 It\u2019s because\u00a0God delights in involving His children in His work in the world.\u00a0 God didn\u2019t make us only to be spectators to God\u2019s work but participants too.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you are artistic like Bezalel, God put that in you for a reason.\u00a0 I encourage you to\u00a0use your art as a bridge between God and people, that somehow through the art you create people will get to know the God who made them and loves them<\/strong>.\u00a0 Relying on the Holy Spirit, may you create beautiful art that touches people\u2019s hearts, opens people\u2019s minds and brings glory to God and His house.<\/p>\n

Also, notice that God didn\u2019t just appoint Bezalel, but God surrounded Bezalel with a team, starting with Oholiab as Bezalel\u2019s assistant as well as a number of unnamed craftsmen (v6).\u00a0 Once again we see the team theme coming up in Exodus:\u00a0God didn\u2019t make you to be a lone ranger in the work and mission He has for you.\u00a0 He made you to give your best in the context of a team. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also, if you are in a helping role, notice what the LORD says in verse 6: \u201cMoreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Being a helper is an appointment from God.\u00a0\u00a0So don\u2019t look down on your role as a helper.\u00a0\u00a0If your is that of a helper, know that you are doing something significant that God chose and appointed you for.\u00a0\u00a0By helping that person, team or organization, you are ultimately serving God who appointed you and the mission He appointed you for.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Exodus 31:12-17 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then the\u00a0LORD\u00a0said to Moses,
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“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\u00a0LORD, who makes you holy.
\n14\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people.
\n15\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the\u00a0LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.
\n16\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant.
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the\u00a0LORD\u00a0made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 12-17:\u00a0 In these verses we learn 5 reasons why God wanted the Israelites to observe the Sabbath and 5 reasons why it’s important for us too to get regular rest:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0First, regular rest is vital to our spiritual health and relationship with God<\/strong>.\u00a0 Observing a Sabbath day encouraged the Israelites to grow spiritually and in their relationship with God (\u201cso you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy\u201d \u2013 v13)<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Second, regular rest allows us to cherish the gifts God gives to us.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The Sabbath day was God\u2019s gift to the Israelites.\u00a0 When the LORD tells the Israelites that the Sabbath is \u201choly to you\u201d (v14), in part He means that the Sabbath day is something you want to treat as special, sacred and set apart.\u00a0 Could you imagine working every single day without ever taking a break?\u00a0 God knew that we need regular rest and thus implemented the Sabbath for the Israelites to get a needed break every week.\u00a0 Let\u2019s not take our day of rest for granted.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Third, regular rest allows us to give God consistent worship.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0The Sabbath day was, in a way, the Israelites\u2019 gift to God.\u00a0 As verse 15 says, the Sabbath is \u201choly to the LORD\u201d.\u00a0 It was the Israelites\u2019 way of trusting not in their own strength and wisdom but in God\u2019s strength and wisdom.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fourth, regular rest is a habit worth modeling for others.<\/strong>\u00a0 God wanted the Israelites to observe the Sabbath as a way of life worth to pass down to future generations.\u00a0 When the Israelites observed the Sabbath, they were teaching their children and grandchildren how to live healthy, godly lives.\u00a0 That is why God tells the Israelites to celebrate the Sabbath for generations to come (v16).<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fifth, when you rest regularly, you are following God’s example.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Observing the Sabbath day was following God\u2019s example.\u00a0 God doesn\u2019t need to rest because God never gets tired or weary.\u00a0 But God chose to rest on the seventh day to set an example for you and me.\u00a0 As verse 17 says, \u201cfor in six days the\u00a0LORD\u00a0made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested\u201d.<\/p>\n

Exodus 31:18 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n18\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0When the\u00a0LORD\u00a0finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 18:\u00a0 After speaking to Moses in Exodus 25 through 31 on Mount Sinai, the LORD gives Moses two stone tablets on which He inscribed the 10 commandments, or the \u201cTestimony\u201d.\u00a0 God told Moses to put these stone tablets inside the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:16).\u00a0 Just as it was important to God that the Israelites had His words not just in oral but also in written form, so let\u2019s be thankful that today we get to both hear and read His words in our Bibles.<\/p>\n

Thank You Father for involving us in Your work and also encouraging us to rest.\u00a0 May we be great at both \u2013 for Your glory and for our joy.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs!<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is Exodus 31:1-18.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

Exodus 31:1-11 (NIV)
\n1\u00a0\u00a0Then the\u00a0LORD\u00a0said to Moses,
\n2\u00a0\u00a0“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
\n3\u00a0\u00a0and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts–
\n4\u00a0\u00a0to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,
\n5\u00a0\u00a0to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship……..<\/p>\n

On verses 1-11:\u00a0 Could God have created the artistic designs and done all the work himself for the tabernacle?\u00a0 Of course He could have.\u00a0 God could have spoken these things into existence in an instant.\u00a0 Yet He chose to involve Moses, Bezalel, Oholiab and a bunch of unnamed craftsmen in the designing and making of the items that would form the tabernacle.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 It\u2019s because\u00a0God delights in involving His children in His work in the world.\u00a0 God didn\u2019t make us only to be spectators to God\u2019s work but participants too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20223"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20304,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20223\/revisions\/20304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}