Do we ever consider the blessing of the provision of the Lord for us and for His creation? The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers. Throughout the land that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land. Leviticus 25:23-24.

The people are instructed in how to allow the land its needed rest. I couldn’t help but wonder what the people ate when I read the instruction to allow the land to rest every seventh year. No gardens planted? Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety. You may ask, “What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?” I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in.” v. 18-22.

I will send such a blessing….you will live safely in the land…

God even provided for a jubilee year of freedom every 50 years so that people could return to their family property had that been sold out of financial necessity. His admonishment…Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God. v. 17.

God provides. We have come so far in this time of ours in advancements and also in relying not on God but in ourselves. The concepts God put forth seem so alien to our modern ears. That was then…this is now.

This morning it was difficult to still my mind to be with God. We had spent yesterday with our daughters and very energetic young grandkids and it was wonderful. The energy and excitement demanded was hard to let go of and my thoughts wouldn’t settle. I realized the blessing of being with Him even amidst the chaos is my rest. My thoughts need Him just as surely as the land needs His provision and care since we overwork everything…ourselves, the land, our hearts and minds.

In my quiet this morning I could finally settle and be with Him and it is such a blessing. I am redeemed. I can feel His peace and ever present love that can get lost in the noise of busyness. Our daughters and their kids are living in that time of demand, of time that is a taskmaster for all that needs to be done now. This too shall pass. God knows how very much we need Him. He knows how very much the land needs Him. We are emotionally stressed and spent at times and need His refreshing Presence to remind us that this, too, shall pass because the land is His. We are His. We are redeemed and He is the One who redeems everything He created. Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Hebrews 4:1-2. Faith. Faith in God who is our blessing and provision of every good thing including His wonderful rest that renews and restores us to Him. We are tired. The land is tired. Turn to Him. He will restore your hope and strength in what is eternal and not temporary. We are His.