Exodus 31:12-17

Read Exodus 31:12-17 

Helpful Background Information: 

• In Exodus 31:12–17, God reminds Israel that the Sabbath was a special sign of their covenant relationship with Him. The command to rest on the seventh day was first given in the Ten Commandments and was patterned after God’s own work in creation. The Sabbath also reminded Israel that they belonged to God and that He was the One who made them holy. Keeping it was not optional; deliberately rejecting the Sabbath was treated as a serious act of rebellion against the covenant. The day taught Israel to trust that God could provide even when they stopped working. It was meant to be a gift, a regular opportunity to rest, worship, and remember their dependence upon God.
  

Reflection Questions: 

• Why did God give Israel the Sabbath, according to Exodus 31:12–17? What did the Sabbath remind the Israelites about their relationship with God?

• Why do you think God made rest such an important part of Israel’s covenant with Him?

• How does Jesus’ decision to heal on the Sabbath clarify the kind of rest and restoration God desires?

• How should the purpose of the Sabbath shape the way you think about worship and rest?