“For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of Sabbath rest, a Sabbath to the Lord. ” Leviticus 25:3-4
Every seventh year, the Old Testament law required that the Israelites let their land have a Sabbath rest. Every crop was left untended; every field was left unsown. And every family was left without an income or a reliable source of food. All they could do was trust that the Lord of the Sabbath would provide for them while their land lay dormant.
Whether we observe the Sabbath literally or figuratively, we, like the Israelites, must also trust the Lord of the Sabbath to meet our needs in the dormant times. Our Sabbaths can be well-planned times of rest or they can be unexpected times of uncertainty. Either way, scripture encourages us to trust that the Lord will provide for our needs.
“You may ask, ’What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?’ I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years.” (Lev. 25:20-21)
God knew that the Israelites would worry about what the future held so He assured them with this promise. Jesus assures us with His words in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” The Lord knows what we need. He wants us to put Him first and then trust and watch as He provides.
Lord, in You we find our Sabbath rest. Help us to seek You, and trust that You will provide for our every need. Help us to recognize Your provision in the middle of our times of waiting. Amen
Action Step
Has an illness, the loss of a job, or a transition in your family led you into a dormant time in your life? As difficult as this may be, consider this time a Sabbath rest. Trust that God will bless you in unexpected ways as you depend on him to meet your needs.