And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 2:3&17
Why is it that the thing we should respect, regard, and repute we struggle with … things like blessings, approval, or permissions? Humanity seems to battle this innate sense of personal destruction when it comes to what God has sanctified and blessed. God gave two simple instructions: a day of rest and don’t touch one tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
One simple command about a day and one about a tree, and we can’t seem to get it done. In Exodus 20:8 it says, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Set aside this one day, keep it unto God. May I ask what you are doing with your Sabbath day? Then, God said don’t touch one tree. In other words, this is mine/my portion. Leave it alone. You can eat of anything else, but this one is a “No!”
And what do we do? You’re exactly right. We have to hang around to see what makes it special. The truth is it doesn’t matter. He said, “No.”
Malachi 3:9 says, referring to tithe and offerings, “Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.” There is a day and a portion that God said was His, and we respect neither. We roll through the day of worship with disregard and do not truly support what God has going on. Then we wonder why the whirlwind. Could the answer be in Hosea 8:7, “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”
Our prayer for you this week: May we return to respecting God’s day and portion, bringing blessings upon us and our children.