Friday, 21 August 2015

The blessing of Shabbat

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What a wonderful blessing and heritage we have in the gift of the Shabbat. In Jewish homes all over the world, Shabbat begins with the last 2 words in Genesis 1 (in Hebrew) followed by the first paragraph of Chapter 2. I am reprinting them here for your benefit.

Genesis 2:1-3 "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." NKJV

This is followed by the blessing of the fruit of the vine and the blessing of bread. The fruit of the vine reminds us that we are grafted in to the root.

John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." NKJV

The blessing of bread reminds us we are brought forth. HaMotzi Lekhem Min HaAretz (The bringing forth from the earth). To be brought forth is a foreshadowing of the resurrection. Remember Yeshua's command to Lazarus:

John 11:43 "He (Yeshua) cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!'" NKJV

Lessons learned: we have the gift of the Shabbat

(1) a picture of going back to Gan Eden and God's provision - Philippians 4:19 "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Messiah Yeshua."

(2) a picture of eternal life in the Kingdom of God in resurrection life wherein there is community and fellowship. 1 Corinthians 10:17 "For we, though many, are one bread and one body" NKJV.