Mon.’s Devo - Anointed to Rest

Read: Exodus 30:11-31:18; Matthew 26:47-68; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 8:27-32
Verse 12 is a key verse to understanding why David got his nation in so much trouble when he numbered them. When they numbered the people they were suppose to pay a ransom for each life. To “count” them represented an account for someone’s life. At the end of our life we will be counted and judged; our sentence will be eternal death unless we have let Jesus pay our ransom. Jesus hadn’t come yet so everyone was to pay the ransom as a picture of what was to come. When David numbered the people he didn’t take a ransom from them so they died in the plague.
Moses was to make a bronze stand for the priest to wash their hands and feet to sanctify themselves while ministering. They would wash off the blood from their hands after sacrificing. This made them clean before the Lord so they wouldn’t die.
They were to make anointing oil from myrrh, cinnamon, cane, cassia and olive oil. It was to anoint all the instruments used in worship. It was not to be used for any other purpose. The same instructions were used for the incense. The oil and the incense represent the Holy Spirit and praise. We are God’s instruments that are anointed with his Spirit and carry the aroma of heaven. We are not to allow ourselves to be used for anything but what God made us for.
Aholiab was filled with the spirit of God to craft the furniture just like God wanted.
God spoke to them about the Sabbath. God’s Sabbaths were to be kept as a sign. The Sabbath was to be a day of rest because it would represent the last thousand years which will be a millennial of rest. We as Christians can live in that rest by faith. It means that we appropriate everything Jesus did for us on the cross. We walk in health, peace, and love. It is an exercise of faith to live in rest.
In Matthew, Jesus was arrested. He walked in rest. His disciples didn’t understand and tried to defend him but his answer was that he could have called more than 12 legions of angels to help him, but he had to fulfill the scriptures which said it must happen this way. Even Jesus was limited by God’s will. There are many things we can pray and God can do, but it is his will that trumps all those things. Living in rest is to rely on the fact that God’s will is always best. Jesus could see into the future and told the priest that one day he would sit at the right hand of God and they would come down on the clouds of heaven. Needless to say, the priest couldn’t grasp that!
Lord, help us to remain in your rest. Show us when we are letting our unbelief lead us into stress and fear. You are perfect love and you cast out fear. Let us rest in your loving arms.