https://app.typeset.com/play/N04O6/embed
Verse: Exodus 35:1-3
Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them, "These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do. Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day. ESV
Read: Exodus 31:12-17; Mark 2:23-28
Read: pp. 12-15 Messiah in the Feasts of Israel by Sam Nadler
Watch: No fire on the Sabbath - 119 Ministries (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emGIogRb0Jc )
Many good people that seek to “keep” the Sabbath attach particular significance to the instruction to
“kindle no fire” on the Sabbath. The result in practice can become that every Sabbath, they eat cold
food in the dark, but the reality of the Sabbath is about relationship, not obedience to arbitrary
regulations and self-denial. The Sabbath originated at creation even before Adam’s sin broke
relationship and intimacy with YHWH.
Gen 2:1-3
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh
day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his
work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God
rested from all his work that he had done in creation. ESV
There comes a point in time where God’s work is done. The completion of His work is about His work,
not our work, not our efforts, not our good ideas, or our traditions. The seventh day is about
completion, satisfaction, and rest in the sense of completed peace (shalom). At the fall of Adam, the
mercy of God first provided a substitutionary covering of skins for the nakedness of mankind and He
immediately prophesied the future of history.
Gen 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He
shall bruise (overwhelm) your head, and you shall bruise (overwhelm) His heel. NKJV
God’s purpose would not fail Him, everything that God saw in mankind that was “very good” would still
come to its conclusion in the Sabbath. Man’s walk with YHWH was destroyed (overwhelmed) by the
deceiver, but there would surely come one born of a woman who would overwhelm the serpent, crush
his head and thus restore YHWH and man. This restoration is nothing less than the very Sabbath He saw
at the end of His work of creation. YHWH is not heading for a place of rest (shalom) without man; He is
going there WITH Him.
This process started with the covenants made with Noah and the patriarchs leading up to Abraham, who
was promised a people as numerous as the stars and the sands of the seas through his son, Isaac. In
Egypt, this nation was birthed out of bondage and given a covenant through Moses in which to live. The
instructions for Sabbath in the Exodus and beyond are out of that relationship, but the Sabbath itself
originated in the mind of YHWH, and it must be recognized as YHWH’s exclusive efforts and goal, not our
own.
From Sam Nadler (pp 12-15 Messiah in the Feasts of Israel) we can see the two ways God relates to us
through Shabbat.
1. As His creation, we were created in His image to have fellowship directly with Him and to
have authority as His representatives on the earth.
2. As His redeemed from the race of Adam, the seventh day has always been the goal for us.
Emphasis comes by repetition. How many weeks have transpired from that original Sabbath day
instruction in the covenant of Sinai? How many times a year was the nation of Israel told to “do no
work” on feast days? We have a Sabbath of days, a Sabbath of weeks, a Sabbath month, a Sabbath of
Years, and a Sabbath of Sabbath years. The Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month is a seven-day
celebration. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a seven-day appointment during the feast of Passover.
On the seventh day, God ceased from HIS work. As YHWH Himself emphasizes, we must be careful to
constantly remind ourselves of the goal which is Sabbath and not let ourselves get sidetracked by what
may first appear to be mindless regulations.
Mark 2:27 And he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath
ESV
Obviously, the rules of the Sabbath are not the substance. The Sabbath day is a sign (Exodus 31:13).
Again, as Sam Nadler points out, we can consider a wedding ring as a sign of marriage. The wedding ring
itself has little significance and the wedding ring is certainly not the life of a married couple. The
wedding ring is not the relationship, but it represents the type of relationship we have with our spouses
and it can be a very powerful sign in our lives--as well as to other people. The ring is a sign that we are
married and the two of us hold a commitment of fidelity to each other forever. So it is with the
Sabbath.
So why is there such a severe punishment for disobedience in Exodus 35:1-3?
A closer look at the Scriptures and the context and culture in which they were given will clarify a lot. A
fundamental characteristic of our Lord is that He comes to meet us where we are. In whatever time or
culture, whatever the state of wealth or health, He will always initiate Himself towards us to bring us up
and out of ourselves. Likewise, as the Lord speaks in the Scriptures, He is speaking to the time and
culture of the people in it, so we must understand the culture the Scripture was given in to fully
comprehend the interpretation.
Watch: Fire on the Sabbath – 119 Ministries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emGIogRb0Jc
From this video we can see that the primary emphasis of the prohibition against making a fire is about
preparing for and/or doing work. There is certainly work for us to do. Work is good and work is meant to
satisfy our desires and bring satisfaction, but there is another greater purpose and goal that is not of our
origin. It is from YHWH and the Sabbath of YHWH is His work and His work alone. Anything we think we
can do to add to it, implement in it, or help Him do will destroy us. We cannot prepare ourselves to do
anything or actually do any work to help Him out.
There is a degree of humility we must walk in to enter the Sabbath of God. This rest is the completion of
our relationship with God. This is our goal. The Sabbath is a sign of His rest.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ESV
Labor therefore to enter into His rest (Hebrews 4:11). Jesus did numerous healings on the Sabbath, He is
Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5), and He does whatever the Father wants (John 14). He restores men to
health and fullness in their relationship with YHWH. This is the Sabbath we need to seek.
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