This easter Saturday the day before Easter we are mindful of Jesus resting from the climax of his ministry, his atoning sacrifice of himself on the cross. This moment was the reset in history where everything was about to become new.
The following is a snapshot of some of the ways the Lord has provided individuals and whole communities with a way to forgive past mistakes and start afresh.
The whole community, especially male and female servants, and work animals, are not to be made to work 24/7 but to be given one day off in seven to rest.[1]
2. Everyone has their debts forgiven on the Sabbatical year.
God commands the Israelites to observe a Sabbatical Year every seven years, during which debts are to be forgiven. At this time people who have hit such hard times that they have sold themselves into slave labour are to be released with generous provisions so that they can start afresh.[2]
3. The Land to have a Sabbatical year when it is left fallow.
Agriculture land is to be left unploughed and fallow for one year in seven. It was to be left to reseed by itself and allowed to grow as a crop for the poor to harvest. That which was left over was to be for the wild animals.[3]
4. Every seventh Sabbatical year everyone is to be reunited with the land of their ancestors.
Poverty and inequality are to be radically addressed every fifty years by the Year of Jubilee.[4] Land is a primary asset for sustainable income generation, so every fifty years ancestral properties are to be returned to their original owners. Those who had to sell their land due to misfortune always have the hope that their children can return to and utilise the land of their parents. This practice ensures that wealth and resources are not concentrated in the hands of a few but are instead distributed equitably among all members of society. By promoting economic justice and preventing the accumulation of generational poverty, God establishes a framework for sustainable and inclusive development that prioritizes and protects the well-being of the poor and vulnerable.
Reflection
Have you seen the pattern of rest and reset every 7 days, every 7 years, and every 7×7 years?
What are you leaving behind this Saturday?
What new things might the Lord be inviting you into?
Prayer
May the death and resurrection of Christ open our eyes to behold the wonders of God in his created order and eternal laws.
Thank the Lord for his wonderful provision of forgiveness and new life for all the community through the laws of God.
Father forgive us for not faithfully reading, understanding, applying or teaching your laws.
We are currently relating daily with someone from an occultic Islamic background who battles with demons daily and has become a recluse. The Lord and the Holy Spirit are at work. Please pray earnestly for death and resurrection to be effectively applied and for complete deliverance, liberty, authority, and joy for the glory of His name.
[1] Exodus 20:8-11.
[2] Deuteronomy 15:1-6.
[3] Exodus 23:10-11.
[4] Leviticus 25:8-17.
Use these resources to help pray specifically each day.