(Gen. 2:2-3) "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it:… This verse does not teach that God became tired and rested, nor does it teach that he created a Saturday Sabbath for all men. "…The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath…" (Mark 2:27). Be careful when it comes to this teaching on the Sabbath that you don’t get the cart before the horse. Man was made after God taught about a day of rest for himself. In fact, a day of rest for man was not commanded by God until He gave it to Israel some 2400 yrs. later. On the 7th day God rested from His labor, giving man an example of the importance of resting both in God’s redemption and provision. (Heb 4:10)" For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." When man decides to trust in Jesus Christ, he enters into an eternal day of rest or (Sabbath) with Christ. As God rested on the 7th day, we too rest in Christ’s finished work. The word “sabbath” means to cease or rest from one’s own laboring. God added this commandment to the Jewish law to teach them to spiritually honor God’s finished works, by physically relaxing from their own!
( Gen 41:41-43) “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt... A nd he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.” When Joseph was introduced to us in chp.37, he was a young inexperienced 17 year old boy, and yet 13 years later God raised him up to rule the nation of Egypt. So, what made him different ? The Answer : “ Time,” and his faith in God ! You see time is a wonderful teacher; 1) Time strengthens endurance . Endurance and faith can only be strengthened over time. Like exercise, we start out not able to do much but over time we find that we can do more. You see, God allows us to go through the ups and downs of life, to help us gain not only spiritual maturity, but also spiritual abilities. Spiritual endurance therefore enables us to handle life’s trials better. 2) Time strengthens patience . Although Joseph, ...
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