A Theology Of Rest
written by Tabea Martens
“It is far into the night, but how could I possibly sleep? My heart is restless. God who are you? Are you the one who promised that my offspring would be a great nation, one that you would bless? Are you the one who let my wife Sara conceive at an age so unimaginable? God, Lord Almighty, You are! How can you ask me to take my beloved son to sacrifice him? To burn him? Who are you Lord? Will you be faithful? O Lord the silence of this night is unbearable. Act, speak, for my heart is restless!”
I wonder what it was that went through Abraham’s mind that very night of despair, the night in which he knew: You were asking him to sacrifice his son. Though I can only assume the restlessness of his heart, your Word tells me he obeyed - and you provided. On that very mountain on which he was willing to give everything, to sacrifice his son, you intervened and provided a substitute. In light of your provision Lord, Abraham named this place ‘The Lord will provide’. In awe and gratefulness I read of your provision for not only have you provided for Abraham, but also for me.
Jehovah-Yireh - No place so holy, fearful, and yet so wondrously peaceful in the light of your provision. And though I live because you have provided, your provision I so often forget. Every day I run to find rest and all the while I’m running from it. Running, foolishly searching to find rest in success, affirmation, money and relationships, with my eyes turned from your provision. Lord, I pray, forbid me to run, forbid me to forget that you have provided. In your grace, LORD, turn my eyes towards your provision, give me faith like Abraham’s, and hold my heart captive for that is my freedom - my rest!
Lord, what mercy that we cannot succeed to find rest outside of you and what grace that we may be in you. Rest - a privilege you have graciously given to your children and yet most of the time I forget to remember and to enjoy. I run and act as if you had not provided - while you are even providing for the ravens.
Jesus, my provision and my provider, teach me to stop, to be silent, to remember in this world that is so visibly restless. Full of people that are running for rest - for truth, for purpose, for love, for healing, for refuge. And though the longing for rest is big the fear of silence is bigger. For what is silence in midst of lies, no purpose, hate, pain and fear?
Jehova-Yireh what grace that you have provided all that I have needed. How can I dare to forget? You have created me with the need to rest in you. You have created me with the need to be silent before you. You have created me with the need to turn my eyes to your provision. You have created me with need to be reminded that you are the one who provides. And in your knowledge of my need you have provided as you set aside a day to rest - to be silent before you. Jehovah-Yireh, till that day that I will forever rest in your perfect presence, hold me captive and teach me to be silent before you—teach me to rest in You.
