25/08/2026
Exodus 33:14
“And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest”.
Chapter 33 opens up with God rebuking the nation of Israel for being stiff-necked, and Moses setting up the Tabernacle of meeting a little far off, from the camp. And Moses goes into the Tabernacle of meeting, with the nation of Israel waiting eagerly in worship outside their own tents, a pillar of cloud covers the Tabernacle of meeting entrance and Moses goes in. He begins to speak to God face to face and verse 14 is a response from God, to Moses.
In the verse before Moses asks God to go with them, to show his grace upon the nation of Israel, that they may lead consecrated lives and everyone will know that the nation has found favour in God’s sight.
God responds “ My presence will go before you and I will give you rest”. The focus is “Rest”.
When we look up the term “Rest” in the Bible, the first mention principle takes us to Genesis2:2 where God instructs us to observe the Sabbath because He created everything in 6 days and rested on the 7th. Therefore the Sabbath is consecrated according to verse 3, and we ought to rest on the day.
In the law God is clear about no work being done (Exo31, 35). Even with the Manna the Israelites had to get enough for two days on the 6th day so that on the 7th they do not have go out and get more. Though the manna would rot the following day yet for the sake of the Sabbath, the Lord preserved it so that the nation had no need to work on the day set apart for rest.
It is interesting to note that it is the first law given to man, rest. Before the instructions on what to eat n which tree to avoid with its fruits, Rest was given as a rule to be observed. In the book of Leviticus death is the punishment for doing work on the Sabbath.
We see a situation in the NT where Christ is asked about observing the Sabbath when He healed someone on the day (Matth12:1-14).We also see a situation where the disciples pluck heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath. Christ then tells the Pharisees that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath, therefore Christ is also the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark2).
One cannot speak about rest from a Biblical perspective and not connect it to the Sabbath when the purpose of observing the Sabbath is to find rest. N we read throughout scripture that rest is something that God advocates for, agrees with and in Exodus 33:14, He gives.
Even in the instance of Christ calling all who are heavy-burdened to Him, He promises Rest.
The term “rest” in Exodus 33:14 means to settle down, to give a place to let, to withdraw (alone), to give comfort, to make rest, to lay down, to remain quiet, to cease, to dwell, to set or establish. So God is saying to Moses that His presence will go before them and He will give them a place to let where they will be withdrawn or alone (Ex 33:2), comforted and made to rest, where they will be able to lay down, be quiet, they will be able to stop (think slavery in Egypt and the wilderness), a place to dwell in and there, will He establish them. Because the Sabbath and its rest was created for the benefit of man, and not the other way around. As thee Lord of the Sabbath, He gives rest to the heavy-burdened because His yolk is light.
May the Lord grant you rest in every season of your life, because it is a matter that He does not take lightly. When I say a matter that He does not take lightly, I am referring to Rest, not observing the Sabbath. But the heart of this Devotion is to steer you to the One who gives Rest. That you may turn to Him for restoration, being replenished when you feel like your fuel is running out, your gauge is low. Allow the Lord of the Sabbath to remove all this is burdensome and take His Yoke instead. May your soul find rest in Him today.
Have a blessed Tuesday.
