As God blessed them, the sons of Israel were fruitful and multiplied during their sojourn in Egypt. Yet, it wasn’t long before the Egyptians saw this nation of immigrants as a threat, setting “taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens” (Exo. 1:11). That’s the way of the world because of sin, and it is such a far cry from the joy-filled lives of meaningful work and worshipful rest God created us for. So “the people of Israel groaned”, and their “cry for rescue from slavery came up to God” (Exo. 2:23).
When God sent Moses as the unlikely messenger of His deliverance, Egypt’s Pharaoh refused to give Israel time off to worship. “But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens…Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” (Exo. 5:4-5). There was no time for rest and worship: they had work to do! The only way the people would experience life the way God intended it for them was if the chains of their slavery were completely broken and a new life begun.
So that’s what God did, not only freeing Israel from something…but for something. The exodus freed them from slavery and brought them to their own land. It wasn’t just real estate, either: “The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest” (Josh.1:13). That was God’s goal: leading His people to rest. And they got to experience how good His rest was long before they got there! God gave the Sabbath to teach them how with purpose and preparation they could work and rest with Him every week, even while in the wilderness (cf. Exo. 16:4-8, 30). While still living in a world full of heavy burdens, God made it so His people could all rest with Him and be refreshed (cf. Exo. 31:17, Deut. 5:12-15).
As beautiful as all that is, it is still only “a shadow of the good things to come” thanks to Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:1). Just like God did with Israel, Christ sets us free from our slavery to sin and leads us to a place of rest. “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His” (Heb. 4:8-10). As we obediently strive to enter that rest, Jesus lets us start to experience it now. Living lives full of rejoicing, reasonableness, and prayer, we experience “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,” Jesus calls to us, “and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
Are you tired? Learn from Jesus how to rest, and you will be restored. This is your invitation to find Rest and Restoration.