Rest, Seriously - Part 2

Exodus 35:2 has got this to say about rest:

"You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on that day must be put to death."

What actually strikes me in this verse is how God takes rest very seriously. Isn't it amazing that God commanded to put to death those who were caught working instead of those who were resting? If He did command to kill those who were resting, then that would make God very cruel. He was just like the evil Egyptian masters of the Israelites.

This command to rest was given after the Isralites left Egypt. Remember that they served as slaves in Egypt for hundred of years.  And as slaves, they were bit given any day to stop from working and just rest. Maybe not even a day in a month. Not even a day a years. In hundreds of years.  And possibly, their Egyptian masters would have killed anyone caught taking some a nap, sitting down or simply leaning against a wall.

So when God gave this command, it was meant to teach the ex-slaves Israelites how to rest. God emphasized the need for rest even when God gave them theif food of Mana in the desert which was simply falling from the heavens and all they had to do was just collect from the ground. God told them:

"You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day.” (Exodus 16:26)

But being used to heavy labor and non-stop toiling, the Israelites struggled to stop working.

The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions? They must realize that the Sabbath is the LORD's GIFT to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.” (Exodus 16:28, 29)

God is a good God. And this good God is our great provider. He supplies our needs out of his goodness and abundace. And He is gracious to give us the GIFT OF SABBATH so we can rest from toiling :)

The Lord is my shepherd;
 I have all that I need.
Psalm 23:1