In Genesis God created and God rested. In other passages, God never rests. So why did God command rest for the Israelites? The fact is God spent significant time delivering the Israelites from Egypt but thereafter, He spend more amount of time getting Egypt out of the Israelites. One of which was the need for rest. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt and the more one can produce marked their worth. It happened then and it happens now. People measure the worth of another by their achievements. Hence people slog to gain significance. The introduction of Sabbath went against the slave culture when resting was only possible if one is sick or injured. When Israel became God's people, God specifically commands them to do no work in the Sabbath (Saturday). From this, we can learn one significant truth. God measures people by their faithfulness.  In the New Year 2013, may it be a year of God's harvest and many more becoming faithful disciples of Jesus.

Leviticus 18:1-5