Rest and Fruitfulness: Exodus 23:1-15

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Here there is a needful word, “Thou shalt not raise a false report” (ch. 23:1). Let us be careful that we do not tell things about others unless we are sure they are true. Let us also be careful that we do not exaggerate. Some stories become so exaggerated, because every person who tells them adds a little, that soon they are so far from the truth one would not recognize them. We should be careful when repeating things which we have heard that we do not state them as facts unless we are very sure they are true.
Sabbath Rest
Another thing which the children of Israel were told to do was to leave their land uncultivated every seventh year. Even the land was to enjoy its Sabbath of rest. The Sabbath, as we have explained in a previous chapter, was God’s pledge of rest on the earth. If the children of Israel had been obedient and kept God’s holy law then they could have earned His rest, but this they never did. Rest will come to the earth in a future day, not through fallen man’s obedience, but through Christ — the man of God’s counsels.
God delighted to remind His people of His covenant and of His rest, and therefore the Sabbath must come first before the order of the feasts. All acceptable service must be the result of the rest which Christ alone can give. Dear reader, have you received it? Have you heard Him saying, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28))? We who are saved have rest of conscience now, and some day we will enter into God’s rest above. Israel will have their rest on earth.
Holiness, Thanksgiving, and Kindness
In this chapter only three of the seven feasts are mentioned. First, there is the feast of unleavened bread. We remember how the children of Israel had to put away leaven out of their homes at the time of their Passover, for God would always have His people to be in separation from evil, and leaven typifies evil (1 Corinthians 5:7-87Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:7‑8)). At the various times when the Israelites appeared before the Lord, they were to come as worshipers, and they must not come empty-handed. There is a message in this for us as Christians also, for we should not come before the Lord empty-handed. There are two kinds of sacrifices mentioned in Hebrews 13 which we can bring. The first is “the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:1515By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)). Even children can learn to thank the Lord for His many mercies, and above all for what He has done for us at Calvary when He “bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)).
Then we can be kind and help others in need, and this, we are told, is well-pleasing unto the Lord (Hebrews 13:1616But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)). How good it is to see children learning to be kind-hearted and generous to the poor. Showing a kindness often gives us a chance to speak a word for the Lord which God may use for His glory. Others may not notice these little things, but they rejoice the heart of God. We are not told to bring a lamb or a bullock as were the Israelites, but let us seek to lead useful happy lives for the Lord’s glory and be sure never to come before Him empty. The Christian’s life is to be one of fruitfulness, first to God and then to others.
Further Meditation
1. How can we bring an offering to God today?
2. What will God do to bring rest to the earth?
3. You may find out a lot more about the time when the Lord brings rest to the earth in The Coming and Reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ by E. H. Chater.