The Devil lies to us about our identity. We can even begin to believe him and start to think, “I am what I do.” The measure of my worth and my identity is tied up to my work, what I do and how well I do it. This is especially true in a consumer world where we are taught that a person is meaningful because of what they can produce. In fact, a person only matters if they can produce. The Israelites were only valuable to Egypt because of what they could do and Pharaoh worked them to the bone; his brick-making quota never ended. But, “I am not what I do.” Instead, “I am what Jesus has done for me.”

Even after they left Egypt, Israel was left with the mindset of work matters. God gave his people the Sabbath as a protest against Pharaoh’s never-ending brick-making quota. He taught them trust in the Lord for provision. He taught them to remember God’s care for them. That’s what the intentional times of Sabbath are for us too. They are a protest against Pharaoh’s never-ending brick-making quota. Hebrews 4:1-11