Exodus 23:10-13 click here for the reading
God speaks to us of rest and renewal often but we can miss out on the practical applications of the rest and renewal. Still, God speaks to us in sharing the promises of life. “Plant and harvest your crops for six years, but let the land be renewed and lie uncultivated during the seventh year." Even God's creation is intended for rest and renewal. Think about that for one minute....The things God creates are intended to take rest....because God showed rest and renewal in the act of creating.
Also God instructs us to allow the 7th or sabbatical year of rest for our crops be given to the good of our neighbors and our community. "Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves." One observation here is that God's creation continues to bear fruit even without our constant attention. The other is that God's provision is not just for ourselves, but for our community.
And if this is true for the earth and harvest, then surely it must be true for us. And God says: “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working. This gives your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It also allows your slaves and the foreigners living among you to be refreshed" We are instructed to rest for the sake of renewal. Again, one of God's operating principles is shown in how the God of creation rests. We work (bear fruit) from rest rather than rest from work (bearing fruit). Given, again, the context in the greater narrative from the exodus story this week, God is setting us aside to be different from the rest of the world. It is Pharaoh and the land of slavery that is constantly demanding our work and to produce, never taking a break or rest. Yet, the God of the Sabbath intends for us to bear fruit out of our rest....a very different concept. What do you think? Do you work from rest or rest from your work?
Also God instructs us to allow the 7th or sabbatical year of rest for our crops be given to the good of our neighbors and our community. "Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves." One observation here is that God's creation continues to bear fruit even without our constant attention. The other is that God's provision is not just for ourselves, but for our community.
And if this is true for the earth and harvest, then surely it must be true for us. And God says: “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working. This gives your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It also allows your slaves and the foreigners living among you to be refreshed" We are instructed to rest for the sake of renewal. Again, one of God's operating principles is shown in how the God of creation rests. We work (bear fruit) from rest rather than rest from work (bearing fruit). Given, again, the context in the greater narrative from the exodus story this week, God is setting us aside to be different from the rest of the world. It is Pharaoh and the land of slavery that is constantly demanding our work and to produce, never taking a break or rest. Yet, the God of the Sabbath intends for us to bear fruit out of our rest....a very different concept. What do you think? Do you work from rest or rest from your work?
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