The number seven is a big deal in the Bible.

Yeah, in biblical Hebrew the word seven is connected to the idea of fullness or completeness.

And that is something we all long for but do not often experience.

Instead we find ourselves working endlessly, fighting back chaos with no real rest.

Yes! Now, keep that all in mind as we turn to Genesis 1 in the Bible.

It begins with darkness and disorder.

But then God speaks to bring about light and order so that life can flourish.

And this happens over the course of six days.

Each day is marked with the phrase, "There was evening and there was morning."

But, on the seventh day something special happens.

God stops and rests.

Right. Creation is brought to its completion on the seventh day.

And that phrase, "There was evening and there was morning," does not appear on day seven.

It is like a day with no end.

On the seventh day, God's presence fills his creation.

The land provides for all of God's creatures, including humans,

who are appointed to rule the world with God forever.

Kings and queens of the seventh day rest.

I can get into that.

But the humans are deceived by a dark power and they forfeit that rest.

They are exiled into the wilderness where they have to work as slaves to the land.

Until they die and return to the dust from which they came.

But God wants to restore humanity back to that seventh day rest.

So, he chooses to give the family of Israel that experience of ultimate rest so they can share it with others.

But, how?

They are in Egypt, slaves to an oppressive empire who is grinding them into the dust.

So, God confronts Egypt and liberates the Israelites,

taking them through the darkness and chaos on the way to the Promised Land.

While they are on their way, they find themselves in the wilderness.

It is easy to get lost.

Life is a struggle.

They are not in the land of rest yet.

While they are on their way, God invites them, in the wilderness, to start living as if they are in the promised land.

But, how do you practice the future rest in the wilderness?

God tells them that every seventh day, they are to stop their work.

Or, in Hebrew, to "shabbat" so that they can rest and enjoy God's good world.

So, take a whole day to live as if the ultimate rest has already come.

Yeah. This is the sabbath, celebrated every week on the seventh day.

But, there is more.