Deuteronomy 5:15 “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.”
Slaves never have a day off. The Israelites knew this well. Their Egyptian masters worked them ruthlessly and made their lives bitter (Exodus 1:11-14). When Moses requested time off for the people to worship God, Pharaoh accused the Israelites of being lazy. Pharaoh then eliminated key resources while still demanding the same productivity and quota as before (see Exodus 5). In the context of Deuteronomy 5:15, God wanted his people to remember their time of bondage and the outrageous demands placed on them – and how he delivered them out of it. He wanted them to remember that in Egypt they had no rest, no refreshment, no time to gather together in peace, no day to worship their Creator and learn to know him. God gave his newly freed people a day of rest to experience and engage in these very good things – a stunning contrast from the years of unrelieved toil.
No investor wants to hear that a CEO has a healthy work/life balance. Paid like an emperor, the CEO is now owned by his masters, expected to be singly focused on the company’s success – all else in his life be damned. By God’s definition, he is a slave. Sabbath is a command because it is necessary for human beings to thrive. It is in our design. If my job requires me to work every week without a full day of rest (or if, more likely, I’m choosing to “get ahead” by working every day and constantly hovering over emails on weekends), then I am rejecting God’s design – a sure path to personal ruin in the long run. Do I feel proud, maybe even superior, because of my excessive working hours? By insisting on managing time my way instead of God’s, have I not made a ridiculous, irrational choice?
How astonishing that the God who gives us meaningful work also invites us – demands of us – meaningful rest. At its best, the Sabbath is a full day interruption of this world by another world, a better world. Set apart to be unlike the other six days of the week, it is nothing less than the breaking in of God’s kingdom on earth.
Father, you know that I have missed your intent for Sabbath during many weeks over the years, especially early in my career. Thank you for great examples like my Norwegian friend Atle who, despite the crushing demands of our time in graduate school, took every Sunday off – entirely – to step away from computer science studies and projects in order to honor you. Though I failed to follow it myself, I have never forgotten his remarkable and joyous example of trusting you. Please help me consistently follow your design now so that I no longer miss the peace, rest, and contentment you want for me every week. I look forward to extended time in your presence every Sunday with fellow believers and with family. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.