My eldest daughter is extremely helpful at home—caring for her younger siblings and even baking cakes for their birthdays. But in her desire to be helpful, she sometimes takes on things that she shouldn’t—such as trying to discipline her siblings or demand that they sit up straight at the table. When she does those things, I have to tell her to stop. This isn’t necessarily because what she’s trying to promote is wrong, but because what she’s taking on is her parents’ role and too heavy for her shoulders.
In Exodus 16, God commanded the Israelites to “stop” as well: to cease gathering manna on the seventh day in honor of the Sabbath. In fact, one meaning of the Hebrew word for Sabbath is “to cease, or stop.” Part of the reason God commanded this was to see if the people of Israel would obey (Exodus 16:4). But we also know from Jesus’ teaching in the gospels that “the Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Because of this, I think another reason God commanded them to stop gathering manna was to remind them of where their provision truly came from—not from all their gathering and hard work, but from Him. In stopping their work, they were forced to remember that He alone was their true provider. His instruction to cease gathering was therefore far more than a command to stop working: It was a declaration to stop trying to be God and do what only He can do.
If we’re honest, so much of the stress and burdens of our lives come from us trying to be God—to do what He alone can do. What rest we can enjoy when we allow our heavenly Father control!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Ezra 3:7-13
More:
Read Matthew 6:25-27 and meditate on the fact that we have a heavenly Father who cares for all of creation but loves us more than anything else He created.
Next:
What are you trying to take on that only God can do? How can you learn to rest in His power and provision?
inikpi ogba on April 28, 2017 at 1:22 am
May God’s wisdom help us to know when to “Stop” and hand it all to him.
ed-efe on April 29, 2017 at 12:26 am
Amen.
Gary Shultz on April 28, 2017 at 4:42 am
Hi Peter: Yes, it is true we often over run our headlights, matter of fact the “word” is just a lamp to our feet, not necessarily a headlight down the road. With some blame, I have often placed my thoughts and what I would think was best with church issues and projects. We often think for God, and that will really make a mess of things. I think we should have opinions and good ideas; however, the church is still God’s and it does best for our thoughts to be filtered through God’s will. At first waiting is difficult, but after God is allowed to work in a situation or event, it is a blessed sight to behold. Life is not all about doing, it has times of resting, waiting, and trusting, enjoying the presence of God. I have been trying to work on a closer parallel to the 4th commandment. To keep a day of rest in a week is good, not, as you say, for the day itself, but to see the benefit of a time of rest, reflection, and enjoying the rest God has for us. Thanks Peter.
godlove on April 28, 2017 at 5:30 am
Thank you Peter, your last paragraph says it all. I agree that our lack of total surrender to God is the main reason for most of our stress and anxiety. However, as we come closer in our walk with God, we realise that He loves and cares for us much more than we know it. He actually invites us to leave ALL our worries in His hands, be they our worries about earthly needs (just as Jesus teaches in the passage in the More section), our worries about sin (seeing as God has redeemed those who believe in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus His Son), or our worries about people who have wronged us (whom He asks us to forgive and leave any eventual vengeance to Him), or even fear of fellow humans (Matthew 10:29-31). I think the root of the problem is that we are simply incapable of understanding the true extent of God’s love for us, so we quite easily forget that even the very air we breathe, every second of life we live, is a blessing, a gift from God. No need therefore to try to take on too much under our control, rather may we surrender our entire being to His divine power and provision and find rest in the perfect peace that only He gives, after all He is God!
sandy229 on April 28, 2017 at 9:50 am
Amen!
don777 on April 28, 2017 at 7:34 am
Peter, So true! This is what we deal with every day. I believe this is why we are here on earth/time. From the beginning this has been the struggle. In which is pride. The me, my self & i. Am i going to do it God’s way or am i going to do it my way. So who is God in our decision & we have lot’s of decisions a day. Every day. This is a working it out to deny self . He changes us from the inside out.
Genesis 3:5 (NLT) “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
John 3:30 (NKJV) He must increase, but I must decrease.
+>i :0
susanolivia on April 28, 2017 at 8:44 am
Dear Peter,
In order for the Israelites to learn how to honor the Sabbath, God, Himself, ‘stopped’ them (there was no manna from Heaven to gather on the seventh day).
Instead, they had to gather enough for 2 days before the Sabbath, thereby learning to trust in God as their true provider–to believe His word and obey it,
It’s interesting to note that when the Israelites disobeyed God’s command by gathering extra manna on ‘normal’ days, that manna was spoiled and inedible the next morning. Yet, when they gathered extra manna the day before the Sabbath, that manna was fresh and unspoiled the next morning.
“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
Thank you, Peter, for reminding us to “rest” and let God be God–“to do what He alone can do.”
Shalom
sandy229 on April 28, 2017 at 9:52 am
Yes, that is so true!
Shalom
conmeo on April 28, 2017 at 10:15 am
Thank you Peter for this exhortation. For me I have been taking on responsibility for an unreconciled and what I thought was an important relationship. This belongs to God the ultimate Healer. I have been prideful in praying to repair what I feel is an essential fact of the Cross post-resurrection; love and reconciliation. I feel so defeated in this by the fact that my lack of confidence that God has this and all things in His hands has me paralyzed. In my own selfishness I have been trying to take on what is God’s providence and only He can do. I pray for healing for all of us seeking reconciliation to Him and others, that the Holy Spirit continues to speak and lead me, may His will be done. Have His nourishment feed us at the root that we may all grow together. God’s Peace be with us all. Amen.
sandy229 on April 28, 2017 at 11:44 am
“Lord, may nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today so each step will lead me closer to You. Help me walk by the Word and not my feelings. Help me to keep my heart pure and undivided. Protect me from my own careless thoughts, words, and actions. And keep me from being distracted by MY wants, MY desires, MY thoughts on how things should be. Help me to embrace what comes my way as an opportunity… rather than a personal inconvenience. And finally, help me to rest in the truth of Psalm 86:13, ‘Great is your love toward me.’ You already see the ways I will fall short and mess up. But right now, I consciously tuck Your whisper of absolute love for me into the deepest part of my heart. I recognize Your love for me is not based on my performance. You love me warts and all. That’s amazing. But what’s most amazing is that the Savior of the world would desire a few minutes with me this morning. Lord, help me to forever remember what a gift it is to sit with You like this. Amen.”
conmeo on April 28, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Amen and Amen! Thank you Lord for this blessing through our sister Sandy, You give great gifts and send beautiful servants, You are our Awesome God! Thanx Sandy
sandy229 on April 28, 2017 at 1:02 pm
To God be the glory 🙂