May 6, 2019
The Cure for a Chronic Case of the Mondays
Exodus 31
Jen Hernandez
Central Truth
God has a purpose and a plan that He created just for you. He is calling you to work heartily for Him and rest in His perfect provision.
Key Verse | Exodus 31:6, 13
"And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you . . . . 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.'"
Exodus 31
Oholiab and Bezalel
1 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, 1 31:10 Or garments for worship 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.
Dive Deeper | Exodus 31
Happy Monday! I might sound cheerful, but in reality, I'm probably dragging today. Anyone else got a case of the Mondays?
Day after day, week after week, year after year, we work. In my twenties, I resented the responsibility of work. I was sick of the grind. I thought my job was pointless; therefore, my life was pointless. I longed for passion, recognition, and purpose in my work. Surely I was not destined to make spreadsheets all my life. But God changed my heart when I became a believer eight years ago.
The first key verse says "And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you" (Exodus 31:6b). God has given us specific abilities to do the work He's commanded us. You might see your work as just a J-O-B, but in fact, you have been called. The root meaning of the word vocation is "to call." God says, "See, I have called by name . . . ." (Exodus 31:2) Knowing that God has called me to my work reminds me that what I do is important to Him. It motivates me to get up each day and work hard (Colossians 3:23).
It's not just about working hard, though. The second half of this chapter emphasizes the importance of the Sabbath, or rest. In Exodus 31:13, God says, "Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths . . . that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you." Sabbath is even more important than work. It reminds us that God is the one at work. He is the one who gives us power, purpose, and identity. We aren't defined by our work, but rather by Christ's finished work on the cross (2 Timothy 1:9).
Whether you're going to work, attending school, or staying at home today, know this: God has specifically chosen you for the job He has set out for you. He has given you everything you need to do this work. So work hard! And rest knowing that Christ's work defines you as redeemed and valued. Happy Monday indeed!
Discussion Questions
1. When you woke up this morning, how did you feel about going to work? What lies are you tempted to believe about work?
2. What Scriptures remind you of God's truth about the value of your work? One of my favorites is Ephesians 2:10!
3. When is the last time you observed the Sabbath? How do you find "rest in the Lord"? How can you make time today to rest and renew your trust in the Lord?
4. Here is a great message on Sabbath and what it means to us today: watermark.org/message/5078
5. For more encouragement, I highly recommend reading Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller.