Read with Me
Genesis 2:1-3 (HCSB)
So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.
Listen with Me
After the sixth day came to an end with the setting of the sun, God ceased His creative activity. This cessation was not because He was tired, but because He was finished. Everything He had planned to create in this whole physical universe had been created, and it was all “very good”, just as He had planned it from the beginning.
Some wonder how all this work of creation could have been accomplished in just six days, and they have even come up with schemes of interpretation to make the time period longer. But such schemes are unnecessary. Even though God included what are called today “natural laws” in His creation, laws by which the whole universe is able to operate in an orderly manner, he did not do the work of creation using those natural laws. They are effective for maintenance, but not for origination. Any effect need an appropriate cause, and the only cause for such a vast universe, and even for life itself is something or someone still more vast who is Himself alive.
The fact is, by using His supernatural power, God could easily have created everything in the universe in a moment’s time. But He didn’t. He spread the work of creation out over six days, and then He took one full day off from his work specifically to create a pattern for the lives of the human beings He had created.
That is why he not only “rested” on the seventh day, but why He set apart the seventh day and made it holy. And when He gave His law to his people, He specifically referenced this rhythm and the reason behind it in commandment number four (Exodus 20:8-11). Regular work was to be done on six days each week (Only slaves were required to work seven days a week, and the Israelites were no longer slaves.), but the seventh day was claimed by God and was to be focused on rest, worship, and mutual help and support.
Pray with Me
Father, thank You for the clarity with which You have communicated this to us. And thank You for the gift of the seventh day. I know some look upon taking a sabbath break as an onerous obligation, a sacrifice of sorts. But You make it clear that a day off each week to focus on rest and on the wonder of You, is intended as a gift, a positive blessing. Help me, Lord, to wholeheartedly enter into Your weekly rhythm, not just for Your glory, but for my good as well. Amen.