Today’s Reading: Leviticus 24-25; Psalms 81; Hebrews 9
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”
In the beginning of the Bible in Genesis, God worked and toiled for six spans of time that we equate with days. On the seventh day, God rested and observed what he had created. He took a pause. God stopped for a moment and enjoyed the view and the fruits of his labor. He was at peace with creation. He was absorbing and settling in his relationship with all he made.
In Leviticus 25, Moses is given rules and guidance from God directly on Mt Sinai. As we observe in the preparation of the law, God is giving us a guide to live by. The Sabbath is expanded. The Sabbath is also observed on a yearly (seven years) and then every seventh- rotation of the seven years (49 years) , which God granted as the 50 years described as Jubilee.
God is putting these set times as a guide for us to breathe. This is a time that we must reflect and observe with each other and commune with each other. I have witnessed in myself that there are times that I am constantly working and trying to the next level. I will push myself to my limits and not take a break and see what’s around. The Sabbath reminds me of the times that I have traveled over the years. I love to explore and hike. Sometimes you get into the groove and want to get to the destination, but the journey and the sights that you see on the way is the true essence of the journey. God created the Sabbath so that we can have a glimpse of the awesomeness that he is surrounding us on our journey of life.
God created the Sabbath to allow us to have relationships. He knew that we are a focused group of individuals. Once we are committed to something that interests us, we will not stop until it is achieved. God created the Sabbath to allow us to create and maintain our relationships with our creator, with others, and with ourselves. If we don’t have these time-outs or pauses then we would not stop to think and interact with each other.
I know that some are very skeptical of this Sabbatical year. They are wondering where would the money or resources come from during this year of rest.
“Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely. The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely. And if you say, ‘What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop?’ I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years. When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating some of the old crop; you shall eat the old until the ninth year, when its crop arrives.“
Leviticus 25:18-22 ESV
God will not only provide enough resources for you in the present year that you are producing, but he will also provide enough resources for the following year and the next as you come out of the sabbatical. He is in it for you and the relationships that you have.
God is in it for you to prosper and multiply and recharge and refresh yourself. He has many things in store for you if you acknowledge him. He wants more than ever to have you happy and healthy. Let us look in our lives and see where we can take rest and enjoy the celebration that God has in store for us.