Day 5 – Why God Created the Sabbath

“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩.” 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬 2:27 𝘕𝘓𝘛

Since the creation and sanctification of the seventh day, there has been a systematic and subtle attack on the Sabbath – whether it is the enemy, our cultures, our flesh, or a combination of all three. By the time we encounter the Pharisees and Sadducees in the New Testament, the Sabbath had become part of the religious regulations, not promoting rest, but rather enslaving the people to follow the laws rigidly, rather than lovingly.

What didn’t change from that creation day is that the Sabbath is dear to God and good for His people. God is utterly self-sufficient. I am not, and I am very needy. I need food, water, and rest. I also need to press pause in my life and redirect my gaze upward, remembering that He is God and I need Him. The Sabbath is a reminder of our limitations.

This beautiful and sanctified seventh day was created with us in mind, and God setting the example of rest. Our need to rest and reconnect with Him relationally was part of the design when He created everything. A gift for us to pause, rest, and Sabbath.

Prayer: Father, thank You for thinking of our well-being right in the beginning of creation and giving us a day to rest. You are limitless, and my need for You outweighs the needs of anything else. Thank You that we can learn to love the Sabbath instead of thinking of it as a set of rules. Amen.