"Cease" The Day...

"The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields." (Leviticus 25:11-12)

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." (Genesis 2:2-3)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam brought up a point concerning God's design for human beings (paraphrased here): In the beginning the Lord created man on Day Six, and then He instituted Sabbath rest on Day Seven. The first lesson taught to man, then, was not the mandate to work: it was the mandate to periodically and intentionally cease from work.

This is a mandate that was also given concerning the working of lands, supported in Scripture by the miraculous signs promised by God to the Israelites. In Leviticus 25 we see God's assurance of His provision being poured out into the lands that adhered to the cycle of rest and labor: "You may ask, 'What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?' I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in." (Leviticus 25:20-22)

An old crop that feeds a household for three years?
An old crop that remains edible through the seasons' weather changes?
An old crop that does not succumb to the habits of insects and creatures known to invade farmlands?

Well, God promised to make abundant harvest a reality for those who demonstrated obedience by letting their lands rest. Let's take Him at His word.

Questions for reflection:

• Are we okay with taking a break from "doing our own planting"?
• Will we rest and make room for the miraculous to occur?
• Do we trust that God, who created us with the ability to work, is also the God who can sustain us in our rest?

Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.