Exodus 31: Spirit. Sign. Stone.

Key Verse
13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.
 
Meditation
Today’s reading highlights three gifts serving God’s passion to restore His presence with His people: a holy place where God would dwell, a holy day when His people would delight in Him, and a covenant written in stone.
 
The first people “filled with the Spirit of God” in Scripture are Bezalel and the craftsmen appointed to build the tabernacle (vv. 1-11). God's Spirit empowered ordinary people with extraordinary skill to create a dwelling place where the holy God would meet with His redeemed people. 
 
God also renewed the gift of the Sabbath (vv. 12-17). For former slaves, rest was good news. The Sabbath declared that Israel belonged to the Lord alone. Productivity, profit, popularity, and power were not their masters. By resting, God's people trusted His faithful provision and enjoyed communion with Him. The Sabbath was more than a day off from work, but a day set apart to delight in the God who had redeemed them.
 
Finally, Moses descended the mountain carrying the stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God (v. 18). These covenant obligations would rest inside the ark of the covenant, foreshadowing the greater covenant to come. Jesus Christ is both the true dwelling place of God and the faithful covenant keeper. Where Israel failed, Jesus obeyed perfectly. Through His life, death, and resurrection, God's presence is restored to His people.
 
Now the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer, writing God's law upon our hearts and sealing believers as His children. In Christ, we are welcomed into the Father's presence to enjoy Him forever.
 
Today’s Reading
 
The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. 6 And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent,8 the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, 9 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, 10 and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”

The Sabbath
12 And the Lord said to Moses, 13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. 16 Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

18 And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the lengths God goes to empower covenant relationship with His people?
 
-Do you worship God alone, enjoying the Holy One through resting in Him alone- or would the world see you worshipping profit, productivity, popularity, or cultural priorities?
 
-The covenant love of God sealed through the person and work of Jesus is stronger than stone- unbreakable. How does the fact of God’s faithfulness through Jesus fuel your faith to trust Him with all your heart, mind, and soul? Where (specifically) do you need to apply this reality? 
 
Key Verse
13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.