In today’s YouTube video, Rudy, Danny, and I discuss the Sabbath. Rudy and Danny, as Jewish believers, have an interesting perspective of the Sabbath, one of respect and balance.
The Sabbath is a key part of the story of creation.
On the sixth day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done.
So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation (Genesis 2.2-3).
On the seventh day, God didn’t cease all work; if he had, the universe would’ve crumbled. Instead, He simply stopped creating.
Rudy Ross suggests that this aspect of creation indicates how we should spend our Sabbath – by not creating.
430 Years of No Rest
The Israelites spent 430 years as slaves in Egypt, during which they couldn’t rest on the Sabbath. God gave them a gift by bringing back this day of rest for people.
The day of rest included eating. On the sixth day, enough manna was given so they didn’t need to collect it from the field. There would be enough on the sixth day to provide for the Sabbath.
This was a blessing from God. He promised to provide on the sixth day, so they could rest on the seventh. The Israelites had no need to go out and gather manna in the field.
God tested the Hebrew children’s obedience using their basic need for food. “In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not” (Exodus 16.4).
Will the Israelites obey God’s rules about collecting and using manna, or will they act on their own wishes? That’s the question.
At first, some Israelites attempted to save manna for the next day. However, they discovered it was overrun with worms and maggots.
Concerning God’s Sabbath rules, some Israelites went to the field looking for manna on the Sabbath. However, they found nothing. This brought about God’s critical response.
The Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and instructions? (Exodus 16.28).
While journeying through Galilee, Jesus’ disciples felt hungry. They rubbed wheat grains between their hands to remove husks and eat.
The religious leaders criticized this act, leading to a debate with Jesus. He then declared that the Sabbath was a gift from God to humanity.
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humans and not humans for the Sabbath, so the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2.27-28).
In our YouTube chat today, Rudy, Danny, and I talked about balance being crucial.
God is generous with grace but also sets boundaries. These limits are meant to give us freedom and a day of rest rather than forcing us into hard-to-meet standards.
The Gift of Rest
Viewing the Sabbath as a gift from God, we discover significant benefits. This is especially true when seen as His grace-filled gift with boundaries, meant to guide us toward the life He wants for us.
(1) Rest and Renewal: The Sabbath provides a dedicated day of rest, allowing us to recharge physically, mentally, and emotionally.
In Mississippi, a man from my church had to work 12 hours days, seven days a week until he finished a project. This constant work drained him spiritually and nearly cost him his marriage.
The Sabbath is a gift from God. Let’s embrace it and let him work in our lives as he intends.
(2) Spiritual Connection: The Sabbath offers a designated time for prayer, reflection, and meditation, deepening our relationship with God.
(3) Family and Community Bonding: The Sabbath has historically been a day to spend quality time with loved ones and other followers of Jesus.
Lots of families cherish the memory of Sunday meals. They enjoyed their mother’s Sunday dinner and time together around the table.
(4) Emphasis on Priorities: The Sabbath reminds us that there is more to existence than work and material pursuits. It provides us an opportunity to focus on spiritual growth, relationships, and personal well-being.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Whispering Danny, and I discuss this passage on the Bob Spradling YouTube channel.
Real Voices 