Bible Study - Productive (6) - Give Work a Rest - Exodus 31:12-17 - April 6, 2014

Bible Study – Productive (6) – Give Work a Rest – April 6, 2014

This is our sixth (6) and final lesson in our series entitled “Productive: Finding Joy in What We Do.”

Our scripture focus is Exodus 31:12-17.

Just as work is a gift from GOD, so is rest. Rest is for HIS glory and our benefit. Rest is for worship and learning of GOD and from GOD. Worship is a witness of true believers to those who are lost in sin. As people who honor GOD interact with HIM, it gives hope to those who are seeking forgiveness for sin and hope for eternity. This was why JESUS told HIS followers that they were the light of the world and the salt of the earth. They have the truth and must share it through their lifestyle.

This is our final lesson. GOD set the example. HE began HIS work of creation in an organized way. What HE created on day one was necessary for that which HE created on day two and so on. GOD is organized and HIS desire is for HIS children to be organized. HE also expected Adam and Eve to work in this pristine place we call the Garden of Eden.

GOD provides the opportunity for able bodied people to work. HE provides the opportunity to work and be productive. Work builds self-esteem. A hand out tends to take away the incentive for many people to seek a solution and they become dependent on the system.  

Work is HIS gift to us. Work provides the opportunity for us to earn and in turn give as HE directs.

GOD worked for six days and then HE rested on the seventh. HE set the example and made it clear that mankind was to take rest seriously and to take off one day out of seven.

GOD set the example of setting aside a time to rest as recorded in Genesis 2:1-3:

1 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.

Did GOD get tired? No! Did GOD need to rest? No! GOD set the example for mankind’s benefit. Mark 2:27b–28:

The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.

Psalm 121:3-4:

3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Let’s consider the meaning of “Sabbaths.” First “Sabbaths” does not mean “seventh.” It means “to rest” or “to cease.” GOD referred to
 “MY Sabbaths.” By making Sabbath plural “Sabbaths” and in doing so GOD indicated that mankind must observe a day of rest and cessation from work regularly. HE set the seventh day aside and made it a Holy day. It is a day set aside for mankind to stop his or her daily routines and focus upon worship of GOD. It is a day for those who acknowledge HIM to learn of HIM and build a relationship with HIM.  

The example GOD set was for mankind to work six days and take a rest. We have to keep in mind that GOD made mankind and HE knows what is best for us and spending a day to focus upon HIM is vital to both our physical and Spiritual health.

Keep this in mind – GOD makes it simple but often man makes it complicated.

GOD instructed the Israelites to take one day of rest out of every seven days, which by HIS example would have been the seventh day. It was to be established such that all believers and worshippers of the One True GOD would rest regularly on the same day.  

GOD gave Moses directions for building a tabernacle for HIM on earth. Remember GOD wanted to speak to the Israelites just as HE spoke to Moses but they were afraid. So GOD gave Moses specific instructions regarding the building of the tabernacle. GOD wanted the Israelites to know of HIS physical presence. GOD gave Moses specific requirements for worship and approaching HIM. Man then began to add certain requirements of what to do and not to do on the day of rest.

Since the passion of CHRIST, all who place their faith in CHRIST have the presence of GOD indwelling them through the presence of the Holy Spirit. The resurrection of JESUS reestablished the day of rest or Sabbath to the first day of the week which is Sunday.  

Under the first covenant, GOD gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments and HIS commands to help keep them from sinning. HE was in Covenant with the Israelites and they were in Covenant with HIM. Since the passion of CHRIST, all who place their faith in CHRIST still need and take a day of rest, worship and learn of CHRIST and GOD on Sunday. Is Sunday the only day Christians can worship?

Could a group of Christians choose another day of rest and worship?  I think so; As long as it is the seventh day. But if Christians desire to celebrate the day JESUS was resurrected from the dead, it would be Sunday. Let’s explore!  

Rest a Holy Obligation

Let’s read Exodus 31:12-13:

12 The Lord said to Moses: 13 “Tell the Israelites: You must observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am • Yahweh who sets you apart.

This is strong language coming from GOD. GOD does not give the Israelites an option because when they observed “MY Sabbaths” it was a sign to others who were not in covenant with the One True GOD. To “observe” is a word of action. They were to seek to know and build an intimate relationship with GOD. In having the right relationship with GOD means to have the right relationship with a person’s family, neighbors, friends and others. The Israelites had agreed to be in covenant with GOD on Mount Sinai.

GOD used HIS covenant name “Yahweh.”

Let’s look at Exodus 19:3-8:

3 Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and explain to the Israelites: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me. 5 Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine, 6 and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.” 7 After Moses came back, he summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 Then all the people responded together, “We will do all that the Lord has spoken.” So Moses brought the people’s words back to the Lord.

GOD had revealed Himself to the Israelites as HE delivered them from slavery in Egypt and guided them to Mount Sinai on their way to the Promised Land. This was a pause in their journey. GOD chose the Israelites to be HIS people but the question was would they choose HIM? GOD gave them the opportunity to accept or reject to be in covenant with HIM. They accepted.

Today, GOD offers every person the opportunity to either accept or reject JESUS as his or her Savior.  

Entering into covenant with GOD was more than intellectually agreeing to the Commandments and commands of GOD. It meant building an obedient relationship with HIM and obediently walking with HIM each day according to HIS requirements.

An important part of obedience was for the Israelites to make it a point to rest one day out of seven days, to learn of GOD through worship and respond to what GOD expected for them. Setting aside one day out of seven days was a visible witness to all other peoples, nations and world that the Israelites worshipped and were obedient to the One True GOD of the universe. It set the Israelites apart from those who did not honor the One True GOD of the universe.

The Ten Commandments’ were the hallmark of the Old Testament to reveal a person’s relationship with GOD and mankind. The law and commandments were the old covenant. JESUS established the new covenant which HE demonstrated the night before HIS crucifixion. HE gave HIS life to pay, in full, the penalty for sin and its consequence of eternal death. Even though those who accept CHRIST as their Savior are free from the Law and commandments, they still serve as guideposts to alert Christians when they violate them. When the alarms sound, it is time for a Spiritual checkup by asking the Holy Spirit to examine our lives.

Luke 22:17-20: (JESUS fulfilled the Old Testament covenant and established the New Covenant.)

17 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you.

When CHRIST gave HIS life to pay, in full, the penalty for sin, HE established a new covenant. When HE was nailed to the cross, the law was nailed there as well for all who place their faith in HIM. The Law is still active to reveal to those who are lost in sin their need for salvation. CHRIST was sinless and fulfilled the law.

When we place our faith in CHRIST, our sin is placed upon HIM and HIS righteousness is placed upon us. Not only did the shed blood of CHRIST cleanse us of all sin – past, present and future – but GOD gave us HIS gift of grace. Once those who place their faith in CHRIST, they experience the miracle of rebirth. They are justified before GOD, which means GOD sees them “just-as-if-they-never-sinned.” This means Christians can come into the presence of GOD 24/7 because they are HIS children.     

The Israelites agreed to be in covenant with GOD. GOD gave them the Ten Commandments to help them to remain in covenant and to know when they stepped outside HIS commandments. It was to keep them from sinning and to seek a more intimate relationship with HIM. The Ten Commandments are recorded in Exodus 20:1-17, which includes GOD’S instructions regarding the Sabbath:

1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3“You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

GOD set the example for working six days and resting on the seventh day.

An Actual Day of Rest

Let’s read Exodus 31:14-15:

14 Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Whoever profanes it must be put to death. If anyone does work on it, that person must be cut off from his people. 15 Work may be done for six days, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest, dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.

Observe is a word depicting action. GOD set the seventh day aside as a Holy day for those who covenant with HIM. HE made the Sabbath Holy for HIS children. GOD’S desire was for all of mankind to take a day of rest, reflect upon HIM and to build an intimate relationship with HIM.

How important and vital was it for mankind to stop, rest, reflect and worship? GOD considered it important enough to impose the death penalty upon those who did not observe it.

A Reflection of Relationship

Let’s read Exodus 31:16-17:

16 The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign forever between Me and the Israelites, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”

GOD again made it perfectly clear that perpetually observing the Sabbath was an eternal sign between HIM and the Israelites. GOD stated that observing the Sabbath was to be celebrated and taught such that all succeeding generations would continue the practice. They were to celebrate their relationship with GOD as HIS chosen people.

Since the passion of CHRIST, all who place their faith in HIM are to celebrate their relationship with GOD through their relationship with CHRIST. Christian churches stand as symbols of hope and truth for those who are lost. Christian churches are not showcases for the saints but a hospital for the Spiritually sick. CHRIST redeemed those who place their faith in HIM from the consequence of sin, which is eternal death and reconciled them to GOD. All Christians are sinners saved by the shed blood of CHRIST by the grace of GOD.

GOD knew the value of mankind ceasing work and resting one day out of seven days. GOD commanded that HIS chosen make it their duty to take this much needed rest and reflect upon HIM. They were to pass on to future generations the importance of keeping the Sabbath as a holy day.

As I study this and think of our current society, Christians work all sorts of hours and days. Should churches offer Sabbaths more days a week?

Verse 17 states – “It is a sign forever between Me and the Israelites, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”

GOD rested and was refreshed. That is, HE stopped to rest and refreshed Himself. Refresh means to “take a breath.” Stopping after six days of work allows a person to pause, be refreshed, refocus and to be strengthened to continue for the next six days. When you know in six days of work you will have rest on the seventh, it gives a person something to look forward to. This seventh day of rest is a gift from GOD to HIS chosen because HIS desire is for them to focus upon HIM.

There are several types of Sabbaths – Sabbath days, Sabbath years and the Jubilee Sabbath which are described in Exodus 23:10-11 and Leviticus 25:1-55.

Take a rest, be refreshed and rejoice that GOD gave us HIS only SON for all who place their faith in HIM will have the gift of eternal life and be born into HIS family through the miracle of rebirth. Blessings!!!