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Daily Devotion: Exodus 23:10-13

Exodus 23:10-13    " And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard. Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed. And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth." 

God set a pattern when He created the heavens and the earth and fullness of it. Six days He labored, and on the seventh day He rested from His labors. All that He had made continued to grow and move according to the design He created in it. God declared it all to be good and very good.

Upon bringing the children of Israel up out of bondage, He reminded them of His pattern. This was something they were to observe in their daily life. It was something that was also to be observed in the land where they dwelled. Six years they could till, plant, and harvest, but in the seventh year the land was to have rest.

Every farmer or gardener knows the importance of letting the land rest. If used continually without some time to lie fallow, the land loses its ability to produce abundant and robust fruit. There is wisdom in all that God commands for His creation. This is true both naturally and spiritually. 

We need to labor diligently (be circumspect) in this land (body) that God has given us. We need to take time to pray, to read His word, to have fellowship with our brothers and sisters, and to worship Him. These things require labor and diligence. They should never be neglected, and we should reap the fruit of a closer walk with Him.

At the same time, we need to honor His wisdom in letting the land rest. We need to set aside time in our lives to be still and consider the good of the “land.” It is necessary that we stop and meditate upon the things we have learned concerning our LORD and just absorb the wonder of His mercy and love. Even in times of rest, the LORD will cause the land to bear fruit.

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