The first Sabbath
God was the first being to practice the Sabbath. In the book of Genesis, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Yet, God doesn’t get tired. Have you thought about that? God has infinite energy so He couldn’t have been resting because He was tired, there must be another reason. Was God setting an example for us?
Man was created on the sixth day, so Adam and Eve’s first full day was on the seventh day, a day of rest, the Sabbath. Isn’t that interesting that Man’s first day, was resting with God? They worked from that place with God, instead of working six days to earn the Sabbath or the 7th day of rest. Adam and Eve did nothing to earn their rest with God, it was a gift, a necessity.
God’s rest is a gift
In Hebrews, it talks about rest being linked to obedience. Those who are not entering God’s rest are at risk of falling into disobedience. In the Old Testament, the inability to enter God’s rest was a punishment for the Israelites when they were not following God. Hebrews chapter 3 verse 19 says, “So we see that they [Israelites] were unable to enter [God’s rest] because of unbelief.”
In Mark chapter 2, verse 27 Jesus says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Jesus is teaching here that Man was not meant to be a slave to the Sabbath and its rules, but rather the Sabbath is for Man, it’s a gift, not a punishment or burden.
Most Christians would agree that the Ten Commandments given to Moses in the Old Testament still apply to us today. We know inherently to murder or steal or lie is not healthy or righteous. So why do we not take God’s 4th Commandment, to ‘Remember the Sabbath’ seriously? We take it as a suggestion, if we have time, rather than a command.
God challenged me about the Sabbath
I went to University to study Biology. Any science major will tell you this is not an easy major. It’s filled with hours of lab practice and endless studying for exams; it never feels like there’s enough time to get things done, let alone have a social life.
When I was deep into my second year and feeling swamped with Organic Chemistry and other responsibilities, I sensed God prompting me to stop and take a Sabbath once a week.
At first, I thought it was a crazy idea. I couldn’t seem to wrap my mind around the classes I had and I never felt like I was studying enough, so the thought of losing a whole day of studying was like committing academic suicide. I had scholarships I feared losing.
As I talked over the idea with my friends, their logic was the same as mine; that it just wasn’t possible. After arguing with God, I still felt He wanted me to take a Sabbath, so I decided to try it for a semester.
Instead of my grades going down, as I had feared, to my surprise, they went up! I found I was happier. The Sabbath was a day for me to rest, to be, to be with God and enjoy life rather than trying to fulfill my to-do list. I was more motivated to study throughout the week as I looked forward to the rest day ahead. My mind worked more efficiently and I had more time to study.
I continued to implement the concept of a Sabbath throughout the rest of my time in University and decided it was something I wanted to practice the rest of my life.
My Sabbath
Now, I still take a Sabbath and use it as a day to rest with God. I don’t have rules on it, like “I can do this, but not that.” I make an effort to not do anything that feels like work to me and to enjoy life.
Personally, I connect with God through the outdoors. It’s where I feel most alive and at peace with God and the world. I love going for a hike or heading to the beach on the Sabbath, sometimes alone or with friends.
I enjoy reading a book, getting lost in a movie or taking a nap and not feeling guilty about it. I’m very competitive, so games are a great way for me to connect with friends and enjoy doing something apart from work with them.
Whenever I feel the need to work on the Sabbath, I remind myself God loves me for who I am, not what I do or accomplish. As Rob Bell said “You’re done, even when your work is not.” I want my whole life to flow from a place of resting with God.
From rest, rather than for rest
God intended us to work from a place of rest with Him, rather than work to try and earn rest.
The Sabbath was made for us, to keep us healthy: mentally, physically and spiritually. It’s for our good, a gift, not a punishment. Many hurry through life and miss this precious gift, only to become burnt out and find dissatisfaction. You’re too busy not to rest.
Laurinda is a missionary at Youth with a Mission in Brisbane where she leads a discipleship program for young adults. On her day off you can find her hiking up a mountain or swinging in a hammock.
Laurinda Rapp’s previous articles may be viewed at