February 3, 2026
Today’s Reading: Exodus 35–36 Acts 10
Scripture Focus
“Then Moses called together the whole community of Israel and told them, ‘These are the instructions the Lord has commanded you to follow. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord…’”
Exodus 35:1–2 (NLT)
⸻
Reflection
It is very striking that before the Lord gives Israel the details of the great work they are about to do, He first establishes the Sabbath.
Before the building.
Before the giving.
Before the serving.
Before the crafting.
God calls His people to rest in Him.
This reveals something so deep about God’s heart. He does not begin with productivity — He begins with presence. He does not start with what they must do, but with who they must be: a people who know how to stop and be with Him.
Even God Himself rested after creation. Not because He was tired — but because rest is part of His design. We were created in His image, for His pleasure and His glory. And His glory is not just power or beauty — it is the correct revelation of who He is to the world. A people who know how to rest in God reflect something true about God.
Then comes the offering.
God invites the people to give — but not randomly. He gives specific instructions about what He desires. Gold. Silver. Acacia wood. Yarn. Linen. Precious stones. This wasn’t emotional giving. It was intentional giving. God had a purpose, and every resource had meaning.
And then He calls the people to serve.
Not just Moses.
Not just the leaders.
Not just Bezalel.
But everyone.
All whose hearts were willing.
All whose hearts were stirred.
All who had something to give.
All who had skills to use.
The women who were skilled in sewing.
The leaders who brought onyx stones.
The craftsmen who shaped the furnishings.
Everyone had a place. Everyone had a role.
And yet — even in the middle of this holy, glorious, God-ordained work — the Lord says:
Don’t forget the Sabbath.
Don’t get lost in the work.
Don’t let ministry replace intimacy.
Don’t let serving replace abiding.
Amazingly, the people gave so much that Moses eventually had to say:
“The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the Lord has commanded us to do!”
(Exodus 36:5)
Can you imagine that?
The church having to say: “Stop bringing — it’s too much.”
What a picture of a people whose hearts are fully alive to God.
And what a picture of the Tabernacle itself — every detail pointing forward to Jesus. God choosing to dwell among His people. God desiring relationship. God making a way for sinful people to live in His holy presence.
⸻
Hebrew Word Insights
1. Shabbat (שָׁבַת) — “Sabbath / to cease / to stop”
Root meaning: to stop, to cease, to rest.
This word doesn’t mean “take a nap.”
It literally means to stop striving.
In God’s language, Sabbath is not about recovery from exhaustion — it’s about relational trust.
Sabbath says:
“God, I trust You enough to stop.”
“I trust that You are working even when I am not.”
“I value Your presence more than my productivity.”
⸻
2. Qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ) — “Holy / set apart”
Exodus 35:2 — “a holy day dedicated to the Lord”
This means set apart for sacred purpose.
Not common time. Not ordinary time.
Time belonging to God.
⸻
3. Nediv Lev (נְדִיב לֵב) — “Willing / generous heart”
Exodus 35:5 — “Let those with generous hearts present…”
This phrase means:
a heart that moves freely, not under pressure.
God delights in willing hearts, not forced obedience.
⸻
4. Chokmah (חָכְמָה) — “Wisdom / skill”
Exodus 35:31 — Bezalel was filled with wisdom
This is not just intelligence.
It is God-given ability to carry out God’s purposes.
Spiritual wisdom is not just knowing truth —
it is being empowered to build what God desires.
⸻
New Testament Connections
Even in Exodus, we see Jesus.
Sabbath fulfilled in Christ
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28)
Jesus doesn’t abolish Sabbath — He fulfills it.
True rest is not a day.
True rest is a Person.
⸻
God dwelling with His people
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
(John 1:14)
The Tabernacle was the shadow.
Jesus is the substance.
⸻
We are now God’s dwelling place
“Don’t you realize that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”
(1 Corinthians 3:16)
The craftsmanship continues — but now God is building living temples.
⸻
Lesson for Me
God is more concerned with my relationship with Him than my productivity for Him.
He calls me first to rest, then to give, then to serve.
The work of the Lord is holy.
But it must never replace the presence of the Lord.
I want to be a woman whose heart is:
•willing
•stirred
•generous
•skillfully surrendered
•and deeply rooted in rest with God
Not striving.
Not performing.
But abiding.
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Lord, teach me how to truly rest in You.
Not just physically — but spiritually.
Guard my heart from serving You without sitting with You.
Let my giving be intentional.
Let my serving be joyful.
Let my life be a dwelling place for Your presence.
Build in me what brings You glory.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
⸻
Journaling Reminder
Sit quietly before Jesus. Listen for the Holy Spirit. Write until your thoughts pause. Then reread what you wrote and ask Him what He wants to strengthen or change.
Begin with: “My little lamb…” or “Dear daughter…”
Today’s Reading: Exodus 35–36 Acts 10
Scripture Focus
“Then Moses called together the whole community of Israel and told them, ‘These are the instructions the Lord has commanded you to follow. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord…’”
Exodus 35:1–2 (NLT)
⸻
Reflection
It is very striking that before the Lord gives Israel the details of the great work they are about to do, He first establishes the Sabbath.
Before the building.
Before the giving.
Before the serving.
Before the crafting.
God calls His people to rest in Him.
This reveals something so deep about God’s heart. He does not begin with productivity — He begins with presence. He does not start with what they must do, but with who they must be: a people who know how to stop and be with Him.
Even God Himself rested after creation. Not because He was tired — but because rest is part of His design. We were created in His image, for His pleasure and His glory. And His glory is not just power or beauty — it is the correct revelation of who He is to the world. A people who know how to rest in God reflect something true about God.
Then comes the offering.
God invites the people to give — but not randomly. He gives specific instructions about what He desires. Gold. Silver. Acacia wood. Yarn. Linen. Precious stones. This wasn’t emotional giving. It was intentional giving. God had a purpose, and every resource had meaning.
And then He calls the people to serve.
Not just Moses.
Not just the leaders.
Not just Bezalel.
But everyone.
All whose hearts were willing.
All whose hearts were stirred.
All who had something to give.
All who had skills to use.
The women who were skilled in sewing.
The leaders who brought onyx stones.
The craftsmen who shaped the furnishings.
Everyone had a place. Everyone had a role.
And yet — even in the middle of this holy, glorious, God-ordained work — the Lord says:
Don’t forget the Sabbath.
Don’t get lost in the work.
Don’t let ministry replace intimacy.
Don’t let serving replace abiding.
Amazingly, the people gave so much that Moses eventually had to say:
“The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the Lord has commanded us to do!”
(Exodus 36:5)
Can you imagine that?
The church having to say: “Stop bringing — it’s too much.”
What a picture of a people whose hearts are fully alive to God.
And what a picture of the Tabernacle itself — every detail pointing forward to Jesus. God choosing to dwell among His people. God desiring relationship. God making a way for sinful people to live in His holy presence.
⸻
Hebrew Word Insights
1. Shabbat (שָׁבַת) — “Sabbath / to cease / to stop”
Root meaning: to stop, to cease, to rest.
This word doesn’t mean “take a nap.”
It literally means to stop striving.
In God’s language, Sabbath is not about recovery from exhaustion — it’s about relational trust.
Sabbath says:
“God, I trust You enough to stop.”
“I trust that You are working even when I am not.”
“I value Your presence more than my productivity.”
⸻
2. Qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ) — “Holy / set apart”
Exodus 35:2 — “a holy day dedicated to the Lord”
This means set apart for sacred purpose.
Not common time. Not ordinary time.
Time belonging to God.
⸻
3. Nediv Lev (נְדִיב לֵב) — “Willing / generous heart”
Exodus 35:5 — “Let those with generous hearts present…”
This phrase means:
a heart that moves freely, not under pressure.
God delights in willing hearts, not forced obedience.
⸻
4. Chokmah (חָכְמָה) — “Wisdom / skill”
Exodus 35:31 — Bezalel was filled with wisdom
This is not just intelligence.
It is God-given ability to carry out God’s purposes.
Spiritual wisdom is not just knowing truth —
it is being empowered to build what God desires.
⸻
New Testament Connections
Even in Exodus, we see Jesus.
Sabbath fulfilled in Christ
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28)
Jesus doesn’t abolish Sabbath — He fulfills it.
True rest is not a day.
True rest is a Person.
⸻
God dwelling with His people
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
(John 1:14)
The Tabernacle was the shadow.
Jesus is the substance.
⸻
We are now God’s dwelling place
“Don’t you realize that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”
(1 Corinthians 3:16)
The craftsmanship continues — but now God is building living temples.
⸻
Lesson for Me
God is more concerned with my relationship with Him than my productivity for Him.
He calls me first to rest, then to give, then to serve.
The work of the Lord is holy.
But it must never replace the presence of the Lord.
I want to be a woman whose heart is:
•willing
•stirred
•generous
•skillfully surrendered
•and deeply rooted in rest with God
Not striving.
Not performing.
But abiding.
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Lord, teach me how to truly rest in You.
Not just physically — but spiritually.
Guard my heart from serving You without sitting with You.
Let my giving be intentional.
Let my serving be joyful.
Let my life be a dwelling place for Your presence.
Build in me what brings You glory.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
⸻
Journaling Reminder
Sit quietly before Jesus. Listen for the Holy Spirit. Write until your thoughts pause. Then reread what you wrote and ask Him what He wants to strengthen or change.
Begin with: “My little lamb…” or “Dear daughter…”
Type your new text here.
Acts 10……