Exodus 31

“Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations” (v13).  While the Israelites were getting ready to create the elaborate objects for the Tabernacle (1-11), God reminded them that keeping the Sabbath was at the heart of all their worship.  Weekly, they were commanded to stop their human efforts to be productive and instead to rest and remember that God was their Savior.

“That you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you” (v13).  Setting aside time for rest and worship breaks the idol of self-sufficiency, reminding us that God created us, saves us, sustains us, and makes us holy.