Sabbath pt.4
The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”
Exodus 31:16-17
We saw on Tuesday that we should rest well because when we do, we can work hard as those who work for the Lord. But this purpose is caught up in an even grander design.
Israel went to Sabbath as a sign to the nations around them. Rest was a sign of God’s goodness. Think about this. What would work have looked like for the nations around them?
I’m reading a book called ‘Headhunter’. A story of a Christian missionary in Papua New Guinea. He tells the story of the endless fatigue of the Papuan tribes who constantly fear raids from neighbouring tribes.
But Israel could rest because God was with them. They could rest because they didn’t have to fear their enemies. They could rest because they didn’t have to work all the time - God would provide. They didn’t have to rest because God wasn’t a tyrant like Pharaoh.
Christians, we should rest and be restored today so that we can show our community what it looks like to live the truly good life. Christians should be the hardest workers - because we have the best reason to work.
But we should also be the best resters, because we can rest… God has rescued us from our greatest enemy. Because we have a purpose to rest (in order to work hard) and because we have a process of rest in prayer, reflecting on God’s goodness and enjoying His creation with Him.
For Today:
Pray:
Exodus 31:16-17
We saw on Tuesday that we should rest well because when we do, we can work hard as those who work for the Lord. But this purpose is caught up in an even grander design.
Israel went to Sabbath as a sign to the nations around them. Rest was a sign of God’s goodness. Think about this. What would work have looked like for the nations around them?
I’m reading a book called ‘Headhunter’. A story of a Christian missionary in Papua New Guinea. He tells the story of the endless fatigue of the Papuan tribes who constantly fear raids from neighbouring tribes.
But Israel could rest because God was with them. They could rest because they didn’t have to fear their enemies. They could rest because they didn’t have to work all the time - God would provide. They didn’t have to rest because God wasn’t a tyrant like Pharaoh.
Christians, we should rest and be restored today so that we can show our community what it looks like to live the truly good life. Christians should be the hardest workers - because we have the best reason to work.
But we should also be the best resters, because we can rest… God has rescued us from our greatest enemy. Because we have a purpose to rest (in order to work hard) and because we have a process of rest in prayer, reflecting on God’s goodness and enjoying His creation with Him.
For Today:
- Are you drawn to people who are exhausted or who seem full of energy?
- Does fear of something add to your tiredness? How could you bring that to God?
- Keep pursuing patterns of wise rest.
Pray:
- Praise God that He is good and desires rest and peace for His people.
- Give thanks for Jesus who has won our rest by His death.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others show the joy and peace of God through good rest.
Posted in Exodus
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