Rest as Resistance

The theme for these three weeks is and has been “Rest” and the significance of the Sabbath, part of the initiative for which is that the Rev. Dr. Carol Cavin-Dillon, Senior Minister, will be on a three-months period of rest and renewal beginning in September. Today she asks us to consider the factors that might prevent our resting. In today’s scripture, the voice of Pharaoh resisting the request of Moses and Aaron to let the Hebrews go into the desert to worship their God may well tell us something about the things that prevent our own rest and worship. Pharaoh tries to prevent the separation of the people from their work: are we defined by our work, our achievements, or are we cast in the image of God who, on the seventh day, rested? The practice of the Sabbath reminds us that our value is our being loved by God rather than our accomplishments. Pharaoh accuses the Hebrews of being lazy. Are we afraid of appearing to be lazy? God invites us to rest in God. Pharaoh doubles down on their tasks, and we know that we can succumb to tasks such that we cannot pay attention to God’s invitation to “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”