Part 1
Genesis 2:2: And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
Not long before the holidays, I was in a teacher training meeting via Zoom. Our instructor asked everyone what they were most looking forward to about the holiday break. The number one answer? Rest.
Friend, our small, simple souls need rest, and God Himself modeled rest for us from the very beginning of time.
Genesis 2:2 says, “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.”
Make no mistake, God did not need to rest. In fact, the Hebrew word used in Genesis 2:2 is shabath. Rather than restorative rest, the word indicates a complete stopping or cessation of activity.
God created everything in existence (Genesis 1). He finished His creation in six days and found it to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). And with that God ceased His creative work.
While the Bible does not tell us anything about day seven, I can’t help but wonder if God spent it simply enjoying and interacting with His creation.
Regardless, this model of observing a day of rest was important enough to be included in the Ten Commandments, where God instructed, “Six days shall you labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work” (Exodus 20:9-10).
Our God, the creator of the universe, knows we need rest. And the type of rest He modeled in Genesis is the chance for us to stop, be still, and enjoy His presence.
Do you have time in your schedule to enjoy being with God? Time free from doing dishes, building spreadsheets, grading papers, or crafting the next proposal?
Do you have time to talk, laugh, and weep with God; read His word; and offer Him your joyous praise?
Just as the Creator rested to enjoy His creation, let us rest to enjoy our Creator. For He is good. Very good.
Until next time,
Shelby
Leave a Reply