Blessed Rest

Remember when you hated naps? If you’re like me, now you long for them. God’s Word has a lot to say about rest, so let’s delve in. (This is a continuation of our study of Genesis, Beginnings. See the end of this post for links to the other articles.)

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. ~Genesis 2:1-3 (NIV)

Was God tired after creating the world? Doubtful. After all, He merely spoke it into being. Besides, according Isaiah 40:28 He doesn’t grow weary. These verses in Genesis 2 are more a picture of God stepping back, ceasing from His work, and enjoying all He’d accomplished with a sense of satisfaction.

Blessed Rest – Specifics

“Completed in all their vast array” – God knocked it out of the park with both diversity and intricate design in His creation. The world is the work of a highly skilled Craftsman! He took the chaos of Genesis 1:2 and organized it into our wonderful planet.

“Rested” – This literally means “cessation from work,” but not in an idle, passive sense. God’s work of creation was complete, so this day of rest was a celebration of sorts. To bring it home, think of a major project that you recently completed. Did you feel a sense of satisfaction from your work? Did you enjoy looking at the finished product? So did God!

I know that nothing we’ve done or will ever do can compare to what God did in His creation of the world, but hopefully this will in some small way help us sense the purpose and meaning behind God’s instituted day of rest.

“Blessed…made it holy” – Something I find fascinating: the other days of the creation account mention evening and morning, giving a boundary to the days. But on the seventh day, the boundaries aren’t mentioned, which gives an eternal aspect to the day of rest. This is collaborated by several verses in the book of Hebrews (listed in the Digging Deeper verses below). “Holy” indicates a difference and a separation not indicated on the other days.

Feel like going further? Check out the Digging Deeper scripture references below.

DIGGING DEEPER – Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 121:3-4; Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Isaiah 56:2-8; Hebrews 4:1, 3-4, 9-11

Blessed Rest – Discussion

How does the picture of God’s initial rest change your thinking about the Sabbath?
How does the exquisite detail and organization of God’s creation help define your image of God? Of what heaven will be like?
How does the eternal aspect of the Sabbath impact you?

God's 7th day was a celebration of all He'd accomplished in His work of creation. #Sabbath #rest...
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The 7th day of #creation doesn't mention "evening and morning." This gives the #Sabbath #rest an...
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LINKS TO OTHER POSTS FOR “GENESIS: IN THE BEGINNING:”

In The Beginning – Day 1

In The Beginning – Days 2 and 3

In The Beginning – Days 4 and 5

In The Beginning – Day 6

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