June 28, 2001
"Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest;
even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.
Exodus 34:21
"Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work,
so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in
your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.
Exodus 23:12
Okay.. truthfully I have rest and vacation on the brain today... but even here we see the heart of God. He planned form the beginning that there would be times of hard work but also times to rest and be refreshed! God wants us to use those times to be drawn closer to him... and God was very serious about it. In Lev 23 he mentions in several verses (vs 7-8, 21, 25, 28, 30-31 &35-36) that he expects this command to do no work to be obeyed. In these particular verses he is talking about observances on the Day of Atonement...
"Anyone who does not deny himself on that day must be cut off from his people.
I will destroy from among his people anyone who does any work on that day.
You shall do no work at all.
This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. "
Leviticus 23:27-32
It sounds kind of funny to me ears.. deny yourself and do no work... I must admit as I'm minutes away from starting my vacation, my time of rest, there really isn't any self-denial involved ( I'm sure I'm missing something here) but I am very excited that it's the heart of God that we take time to slow down from all the routines of life and spend time with him!! I'm looking forward to being able to use the time to grow deeper in my walk with him.. and yes, a little extra sleep will be wonderful!