Exodus 30-32 (Day 40)

_ Exodus 31:12-17 records how serious God is about the Sabbath; which is a “rest.” When you read about the run-in’s Jesus had with Pharisees about the Sabbath you see His seriousness about it wasn’t for hypocritical religious reasons like many people still think today.

Mark 2:23-28 says, “Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.  24)  And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"  25)  But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:  26)  how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?"  27)  And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  28)  Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

Righteousness doesn’t come through the Law (Gal. 2:21), but we should follow the principles God gives for our good. So, what is the meaning of the Sabbath principle we’re to follow? The bible says God made the world in 6 days and He rested on the 7th. Since God made man on the 6th day our life began when God basically said, “I’m resting now because My works are done.”

Hebrews 4:1-4 & 9-10 expresses this thought; it says, “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.  2)  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.  3)  For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "SO I SWORE IN MY WRATH, 'THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  4)  For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"… 9) There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.  10)  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”

How do we enter His rest, His Sabbath? We recognize God’s works are finished so we cease from our works to walk in what He has already done; we trust Him and stop striving in our own strength and wisdom. It doesn’t do much good to not work on the 7th day of the week but strive in our self the rest of the week. Of course it’s good to physically rest one day a week, but the Sabbath principle deals with the heart.

Do you have any comments on this? Ask any questions you have on this topic.