Day 5
Read Leviticus 23:1-3
Leviticus chapters 23-25 talk about some of the festivals or events that the Israelites participated in. God was giving the Israelites specific times to remember what He had done for them over their history. A good comparison might be that we all always remember Jesus was born a man, but specifically at Christmas time we focus on that and all that it means for us. Another example could be Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. God is specifically telling the Israelites when these festivals or events will be and what He wants them to remember during them.
These festivals are meant to serve as a time of celebration and remembrance of all God has done for them. Let’s take a look at the first event God gives the Israelites, the Sabbath.
Leviticus 23:3
“‘There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.
The Sabbath was a day that God commanded the Israelites to not do any work, simply to rest. Let’s put it in the context of it’s time. The Israelites have just been delivered from their slavery in Egypt where they were forced to do harsh physical labor for the Egyptians and if they didn’t work hard enough, they were punished. Their success was based off how much they could complete. Now God is commanding them to take a day where they do nothing. One of the many reasons for this, is so that the Israelites can remember that their identity and worth doesn’t come from the things that they do. But rather, the fact that they belong to God.
The same can be a struggle for us. If you’ve ever felt less than because you didn’t make a sports team, didn’t get a good grade on a test you studied for, or maybe you’ve struggled in a job before. One of the reasons we need rest, is to remind ourselves that our worth and value doesn’t come from what we do. It comes from the fact that we belong to God and are created in His image. While we don’t have a strict Sabbath day like the Israelites did, God still created us with a need for rest. Make sure that you build time into your schedule to rest, spend time with God, enjoy some of your hobbies and just be with friends and family.
Questions to consider.
On a scale of 1-10, how well do you think you do at building time into your schedule to rest?
Think about the things you work really hard at, school, sports, a job, etc. Have you ever felt bad about yourself when things haven’t gone well for you in these areas? What work do you struggle with putting your identity in?
Take some time in prayer and remember why you are valuable to God and worthy of His love. (Hint, it’s not because of anything you have done). It’s because of who He is and how He has loved you. Write down how you plan to practice a sabbath in your life on a consistent basis and make it a priority to remind yourself that you are not defined by the work that you do.
Leviticus chapters 23-25 talk about some of the festivals or events that the Israelites participated in. God was giving the Israelites specific times to remember what He had done for them over their history. A good comparison might be that we all always remember Jesus was born a man, but specifically at Christmas time we focus on that and all that it means for us. Another example could be Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. God is specifically telling the Israelites when these festivals or events will be and what He wants them to remember during them.
These festivals are meant to serve as a time of celebration and remembrance of all God has done for them. Let’s take a look at the first event God gives the Israelites, the Sabbath.
Leviticus 23:3
“‘There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.
The Sabbath was a day that God commanded the Israelites to not do any work, simply to rest. Let’s put it in the context of it’s time. The Israelites have just been delivered from their slavery in Egypt where they were forced to do harsh physical labor for the Egyptians and if they didn’t work hard enough, they were punished. Their success was based off how much they could complete. Now God is commanding them to take a day where they do nothing. One of the many reasons for this, is so that the Israelites can remember that their identity and worth doesn’t come from the things that they do. But rather, the fact that they belong to God.
The same can be a struggle for us. If you’ve ever felt less than because you didn’t make a sports team, didn’t get a good grade on a test you studied for, or maybe you’ve struggled in a job before. One of the reasons we need rest, is to remind ourselves that our worth and value doesn’t come from what we do. It comes from the fact that we belong to God and are created in His image. While we don’t have a strict Sabbath day like the Israelites did, God still created us with a need for rest. Make sure that you build time into your schedule to rest, spend time with God, enjoy some of your hobbies and just be with friends and family.
Questions to consider.
On a scale of 1-10, how well do you think you do at building time into your schedule to rest?
Think about the things you work really hard at, school, sports, a job, etc. Have you ever felt bad about yourself when things haven’t gone well for you in these areas? What work do you struggle with putting your identity in?
Take some time in prayer and remember why you are valuable to God and worthy of His love. (Hint, it’s not because of anything you have done). It’s because of who He is and how He has loved you. Write down how you plan to practice a sabbath in your life on a consistent basis and make it a priority to remind yourself that you are not defined by the work that you do.