Set Apart

So I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. There I gave them my decrees and regulations so they could find life by keeping them. And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the LORD, who had set them apart to be holy. [Ezekiel 20.10-12] 

Back in 2017, I wrote the article Observations regarding this same passage from Ezekiel. In that article, I made it clear that I was less than understanding of all it meant.

Today, something much more clear stood out to me from this passage: And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me.

Why would decrees and regulations be separated from Sabbath days? Isn't the Sabbath a decree or regulation?

As God is so faithful to progressively reveal more and more from His Word, today, I see Jesus clearly in Ezekiel's writing! Jesus is the Sabbath of Rest. Jesus is our sign of relationship between those who believe and God. Jesus sets those who believe apart as holy!

It is not only comforting, but revelatory that Jesus said:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [Matthew 11.28]

Jesus is indeed the Sabbath of Rest. The Apostle Paul only further confirms this:

So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. [Colossians 2.16-17] 

Israel's idolatry interfered with their observation of the Sabbaths. It blinded them to Jesus.

The only way Israel of old or the modern Church will behold Jesus is to turn away from idols and turn to Him alone. Jesus' demand of exclusivity is masked in no way in the Gospels:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24, Mark 8.34, Luke 9.23]

The Sabbath is not a day - it is a person. His name is Jesus. His true followers follow Him ALONE. Loyalty to follow Him alone is a sign between Him and His followers.

The question looms: How clear is our sign that we are set apart followers of Jesus?

Father, it is all too obvious that the Church needs to be more clearly representing Jesus. Our idols make us look just like the world and nothing like Jesus. Forgive us for this unholy fact. May we be found ridding ourselves of every idol that identifies us with the world so that the power of Jesus Christ might undeniably manifest in us signifying to the world that we are set apart as His and HIS ALONE! So be it!