Getting Egypt Out of You
“And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.”Exodus 5:8 (KJV)
In Egypt, Israel’s worth was measured in bricks. Pharaoh’s order was simple: “And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof.” Every day, the same quota. Never less.
Then God brought them out and gave them a new rhythm: “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God.” After generations of quotas, a day off probably felt wrong. Some of them may have felt guilty resting.
God tied the sabbath directly to Egypt: “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt… therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.” Rest was proof they were not slaves anymore. God had to get Israel out of Egypt, and then get Egypt out of Israel.
If you feel guilty every time you rest your body, there may be some Egypt left in you. Your worth isn’t a quota. Rest is part of being free.
Read it yourself
Read Deuteronomy 5:12–15. Who else does God say should rest on the sabbath?
Do you feel guilty when you rest? What quota have you been living under?
Lord, you brought me out of slavery. Get the quotas out of me, and teach me to rest like someone who is free. Amen.