You have been waiting for the past few weeks for this day, a sort of reset button, and now is time to set the clock and slow down. Time to have a taste of a world that hides beneath the busyness of life. I know you have expectations of good things ahead, of connections restored, great food and shared family memories. But today I want to speak today about detoxicating our heart, finding rest.
Restlessness is the symptom of familiar root: fear, and fear is the pervasive worm that eats out the heart of those whose sense of security lays within themselves.
As an Adventist, I do not practice Ramadan, but we keep a weekly day of celebration every Sabbath, so I can connect to several of the same motifs associated to Ramadan, and I listen to the same prophets whose ancient wisdom reverberates through the ages.
Thus says the Lord,
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it;
And you will find rest for your souls…
Jeremiah 6:16
So, here are some practical principles from detoxicating our hearts that come from the Honored Tawrat,
What? Rest with Noah (Nabi Nuh as)
From the story of creation we read that,
“Then the Lord God took the human (Adam) and ‘rested him’ (וינחהו / nuakh) into the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. (Honored Tawrat, Genesis 2:15).
Here “nuakh” has the idea of settling, placing Adam in a place of safety was meant to make his work enjoyable as long as the land was blessed. But when the land no longer produced without struggle, and life became a daily fight, God sent a prophet after him whose name meant rest menuah, a form of the word Noah: (Nabi Nuh as) to teach us to rest in his providence.
And he called his name Noah (rest), and said, “This one will comfort us from our work (rest), and from the labor of our hands, and from the Earth which LORD JEHOVAH cursed.” Genesis 5:29
Noah (Nabi Nuh as) is best known by story of how he built an ark of safety upon God’s command, so that when chaos ensued the whole earth, and destruction befall every creature, Nuh and his family “rested” in the midst of chaos, for the hand of the Almighty gave them rest in the vessel. Does your life feel like roaring waves? A storm that only slows down just to gain more strength and pound harder? There is rest! God has prepared in the eye of the storm a place of safety for the descendants of Noah (Nabi Nuh as), tired of working and longing for rest.
Does your life feel like roaring waves? A storm that only slows down just to gain more strength and pound harder? There is rest! God has prepared in the eye of the storm a place of safety.
When? Entering into His Presence with Moses
The only other place this particular word for ark is used is in reference to the papyrus basket coated with tar and pitch that serve as a place of safety for Moses (nabi Musa as) along the bank of the Nile. Can you imagine the small basket open floating over the waters? But the baby was safe, for the Almighty was with Him. The same presence that accompanied him for the rest of his life.
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, `Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, `I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’
If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33: 12-14
Moses (Nabi Musa as) and the Bani Israel were on a journey through the desert facing many dangers, especially enemies who sought to plunder them and destroy them. Moses (Nabi Musa as) was over 80 years old, and the burden of leadership was heavy upon his shoulders, he asked Lord for someone to share the load with Him, and God promises him rest. How? His Presence will go before him. What daunting task is robbing your sleep? Are you begging for help that you may find rest? When do we experience rest? When we enter into His Presence, and this is not only in worship, but we can be in His presence during the day as we call on His Name.
How? Fighting the giants with King David (Nabi Dawood as)
After the king (David) was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him… (2 Samuel 7:1) King David (Nabi Dawood as) was a mighty warrior, fearless but it was not his sword or powerful hand that brought him rest, but entering into the rest of God. (Baqara 2:251). So they defeated them by Allah’s Will, and David killed Goliath (Jalut).
As a young man the future King heard of a godless giant taunting God and his people, and he purposes in his heart to confront him David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 1 Samuel 17:45
Rest, like a palace, is the reward of those whose trust is in Him. King David looked at the giant before him and told him, I refuse to cower because my God is greater than your might, and to Him do I belong. In the Honored Zaboor (Psalms 56: 3-13) we read:
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin.
They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life.
Because of their wickedness do not let them escape;
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.
Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll — are they not in your record?
Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help.
By this I will know that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?
I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you.
For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God in the light of life.
Who? Seeking rest at the table with Jesus (Isa al Masih as)
And as the Messiah saw the masses burdened by worries, sickness and the evil spirits , he had compassion on them, because that were like sheep with no shepherd and he spoke:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Honored Injil, Mathew 11:28
It is our desire that this Ramadan, you may find divine rest, and discover the meaning of “that you may become righteous” (Qur’an Karim, Baqara 2: 183) in your life.