SHABBAT SHALOM

“For six days, you are to work. But on the seventh day, you are to rest, so that your ox and donkey can rest, and your slave-girl’s son and the foreigner be renewed.”
Exodus 23:12

Lasting from Friday dusk thru Saturday dusk, a time of Sabbath is celebrated in my house. This was not always the case as I was raised Baptist early on, and then Non-Denominational later. But with my acceptance of my Jewish roots I now find myself celebrating the customs and traditions of the Jewish people. Sabbath, or Shabbat, is the most celebrated simply because it takes place weekly, but it should never be looked over simply because of how often it happens.
The purpose behind Shabbat is rest. Looking then in Genesis 2:2, we read that Adonai rested on the seventh day, and it is this rest that we are told in Hebrews 4:11, to make every effort to enter. Rest here does not mean that He took a nap, but rather suggests that work was ceased. So then, when Adonai gave this command to the Israelites, He was saying that they also needed to take a day where no work was to be done. The only exception to this was when life was balancing on a life or death situation. It was under these circumstances that Jesus healed on the Sabbath as we read in the New Testament. In reading Exodus 23:12 and 31:17, though, as Adonai gave the detailed commands of Shabbat to Moses, He shared that this day was to be a day of rest and refreshing. The word in Hebrew is NAPHASH, meaning literally to take a break. In fact, He also spoke that those who did not obey and did work were to be killed (Ex 31:15). But then if God did not work, and commanded His people to do no work, what did they do?
It was this day that the followers of the true God were to reflect on Him. Going back to Genesis, when Adonai had finished creating, He looked over His creation and found it pleasing. As I was talking to my children recently about our celebration, I explained to them how Adonai maybe got together with Jesus and pointed out some things. “Hey you see that tree over there? That’s a pine tree. I made it to have what will be called pine cones. The seed of this tree will be stored within the pine cone. Awesome, huh? And that over there, that’s a salmon. It will be a great source of food for both animal and human, but it will also be an amazing fish in that it will swim upstream to lay its eggs. No other fish that I have made will have that same ability.” On and on I can see Him going, talking about His creation as He sits back and rests from what He has made and finds pleasure in His creation.
Shabbat is the same. Shabbat is our turn to rest and find pleasure in His creation. It is the time that we can slow down and smell the roses. We can take a nature walk and see the pine cone that Adonai took pleasure in, or visit the stream where the salmon swims up to lay its eggs. We can take the time to read and reflect on Adonai’s word and draw closer to Him. It is the time when work no longer has the upper hand, but rather Adonai does. In this time, whether individually or corporately, we can thank Him for life. The Friday evening ceremony consists of lighting candles which represent the bringing of light, peace, joy and harmony into our home. The Kiddush, or taking of the juice, is a symbol of joy and an attitude of thankfulness for the life that Jesus willing laid down for us. His blood covers our sin. And the challah bread represents not only Jesus’ body, broken for us, but also the double portion of Adonai’s provision poured out over us. Therefore we have much to thank Him for.
I understand you may not be Jewish, and by no means do I look down on anyone who is not. My point more so in writing this has been for understanding, but maybe also to challenge you in allowing yourselves to take a break. We are in a pattern where we are go go go, and give little or no time to Him during the week. When the weekend comes, we feel it is owed to us to have that time of doing what we want. I have felt that before. But in honesty, this principle is no different than reaping and sowing. If we allow ourselves to slow down and give Adonai one day where we rest and reflect on Him, He will in turn bless us in the other six. I challenge you, despite your denomination, to give Him your time and see how He will bless you for being obedient to Him. Shabbat Shalom.

Exodus 23:6-19