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Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
When we take the rest Jesus referred to in Matthew 11:28, we submit to the authority of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus Christ is the only one who gives us access to the Father. As John 14:6 (NKJV) states: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
But what does this “rest” that Jesus gives look like when we are facing hard situations and challenges? As a start, this rest is different from any rest that we can create on our own or with help from the world. This rest that Jesus gives empowers us to walk faithfully before God. Consider the following:
- When we enter into the rest that Jesus gives, no matter what we are going through, we will not doubt God.
- When we enter into that rest that Jesus gives, even if bombarded by fear and anxiety, we are still able to hold on to the peace that God gives.
- When we enter into that rest that Jesus gives, the faith that Jesus gives enables us to see our situations and challenges as complete – behind us – because the God who is faithful will make a way for us.
Genesis 22:1-2 (NKJV) states: Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
The son that God was asking Abraham to sacrifice in Genesis 22:2 was none other than the son that God had said Abraham’s wife Sarah would bear to him despite her being 90 years old. This was also the son in whom God had made an everlasting covenant.
When God gave Abraham the instruction to sacrifice Isaac, he called attention to the fact that Abraham loved Isaac. But despite his love for Isaac, Abraham walked in obedience to God and went to where God told him to go to sacrifice Isaac.
Just as Abraham was about to slay his son, an angel came. Genesis 22:12 (NKJV) tells us: And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Off in the thicket was a ram. Abraham offered the ram up to the Lord as the burnt offering. God had provided.
Despite what we face, when we continue trusting God wholeheartedly and doing what God told us to do, we get to experience the benefits of our loyalty to God. Just as God provided for Abraham, God will do the same for us.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV) states: The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domains.
