Sabbath: a protest

Sabbath is a time of rest. Sabbath is also a time to stop. To cease. Like enough is enough.

But did you know that Sabbath is also a 'protest'?

You are a "human-being," not a "human-doing."

For us humans, it is actually never enough. Somewhere, deep down, we always want more. More money, more power, bigger, more beautiful - simply more of everything. Trusting that tomorrow there will be enough again is one of the most difficult things for human beings.

Sabbath is a conscious quitting of this "it-is-never-enough attitude." With this attitude of trying to control oneself. Sabbath is a protest. A choice to trust.

God provides!

In this section in Exodus 16, the people of Israel have just been freed from Egypt, where they were slaves for a long time. Working they would, and if they worked they would live. But was that life?

And here, in the desert, they depend entirely on God. On the God who freed them from the horrible slavery in Egypt. The God who defeated the armies of Egypt for them and led them right through the Red Sea. The God who wants to show them the way step by step and take care of them.

But how quickly you can forget that. Then you yourself start hoarding, scraping again. And that is exactly what some people do.

Someone once said, "Freeing a people from slavery is one thing, but getting the slave out of a people is quite another." And so it is. You see it reflected in Exodus 16.

Trust is one of the most difficult things for a human being.

The Sabbath is a protest.

Sabbath is a time when you say enough is enough. I choose to trust God. He provides, and whether I have enough does not depend on my effort. I live under His provision. He is the God who provides.

Do you feel how liberating that is?

Do you have one of those moments during the week when you indulge that, and make it very real?

Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."

Enjoy this gift from God for you and stop just a moment. He is taking care of you.

Take the following questions to think about:

• What place does Sabbath have in your life?
• Sabbath as protest – enough is enough. How can you make that concrete? When you look at your life, do you see a "human-doing" or a "human-being"? Is there something you want or need to change?

Prayer: "Lord, You care. Help me not to forget that. Thank You for the gift of Sabbath and help me - perhaps as a protest to myself - to give that a place in my life. A periodic reminder of who You are. Lord, let a testimony go out from my life in that way too. Amen."

P.S. This is the last day of this reading plan. We hope it has helped you as a follower of Jesus and that you have enjoyed it.

The materials in this reading plan come from Alongsiders, an European discipleship movement and Jesus.net.

Of course, there is much more to discover! Do you want to take the next step? Do you have a heart for discipleship and do you want to know more about how to follow Jesus together with others? Visit our website.