Camels Always Rest on their Knees

Camels Always Rest on their Knees

Are you tired and worn out from busyness and a crowed schedule?  Are you weary from the trials and challenges you face day to day?  Does it feel as though you are carrying an overload of weight on your shoulders and no one is available or willing to shoulder the weight with you?

Before you say, “that’s life!” consider the words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28-30,

28  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30  "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

The definition of rest from verse 28 is:

a)  To cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to

recover and collect his strength.

a)  To keep quiet.

b)  Of calm and patient expectation.

The definition of rest from verse 29 is:

a)  Intermission

b)  Cessation of any motion, business or labor

c)  Recreation

The illustration for rest from the Arabic is to kneel down as a camel.  Camels always rest on their knees.

As you read this excerpt from an older edition of Encyclopedia Britannica, allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you.  What did you see?  How will you apply it?

The Camel

Of all carriages, camels are the cheapest and quickest. Each camel is loaded in proportion to his strength.  The large camels generally carry a thousand, or even twelve hundred pounds weight, and the smallest from six to seven hundred.

At the first signal, the camels will bend their knees and lie down to be loaded, which saves their conductor the trouble of raising the goods to a great height. As soon as they are loaded, they rife spontaneously and without any assistance. One of them is mounted by their conductor, who goes before, and regulates the march of all the followers.

The camel requires neither whip nor spur. But, when they begin to be tired their courage is supported, or rather their fatigue is charmed, by singing, or by the sound of some instrument. Their conductors take a turn at singing and, when they want to prolong the journey, they give the animals but one hour's rest upon their knees; after which, resuming their song, they proceed on their march for several hours more and the singing is continued till they arrive at another resting place, when the camels again lie down; and their loads, by unloosing the ropes, are allowed to glide off on each side of the animals. Thus they sleep on their bellies in the middle of their baggage, which, next morning is fixed on their backs with equal quickness and facility as it had been detached' the evening before.

What can we learn about rest from the camel?

A.                 Make Christ your Conductor

·    Let Him call you to labors, burdens and works.  Never take on what is not placed upon you by Him.  If you have, release it. 

·    Is the Lord leading you or have you gotten ahead? 

·    Is the Lord regulating your pace?  Don’t be fooled!  “A chicken with its head cut off” is not the standard speed of the Lord’s servants.

B.                 Rest is Found in Worship

·    Make your life, your work, your responsibilities an act of worship, accomplished for the Lord.  When what we do is truly done for Him that brings rest. 

·    Lifting your voice in song and praise when in the midst of troubles places your focus on your greatest strength and asset, the Lord.  That brings rest and the endurance to continue.

C.                Rest is Found in Prayer

·    Relinquishing control to God and asking for His power to be unleashed in your circumstances brings rest.

·    The Apostle James, the half-brother of Jesus, was actually nicknamed 'Old Camel Knees' because he was known as a man of prayer.  James learned to rest on his knees.  He wrote: James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 

Yes, Camels always rest on their knees. 

If you are weary today, fall to your knees and rest.