In the Beginning -Day Seven Rest

“Genesis 2:1-3 KJV Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. ² And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. ³ And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

            Was God exhausted from creation? No! Why then did he rest? God is not only our creator he is our role model. The day of rest was the first example of spending time admiring his (God’s) work and spending time with his creation. His creation was complete and ready to serve him. Work or service for man is tiring therefore he dedicated a sabbath (Holy day of rest) for mankind. Also, just as God dedicated a day of rest to pay tribute to his work; man is to take a holy day of rest to pay tribute to God.
“Exodus 20:11 KJV For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
“Exodus 31:16-17 KJV Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.”

            Something that has caused friction amongst Christians is the day that some groups call sabbath. This matter was later addressed in the new testament as a trivial matter. Romans 14 talks about doubtful disputes of what day we consider the Lord’s Day and what food we are to eat. It really doesn’t matter what day as long as we observe it.
“Romans 14:5-8, 22 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth

            Our focus should be solely in worshipping God and to bring honor and glory to his holy name. “Colossians 2:16-17 KJV Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: ¹⁷ Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

            Another point of interest in the events of the seventh day is that God did not say, “And the evening and the morning were the seventh day.” “Evening” and “morning” indicates a timespan often associated with work. Not mentioning them gives a feeling of completion and rest.

            God also did two important things on the seventh day, he blessed, and sanctified this day of rest. God previously blessed creatures, and man. Now on the seventh day he blesses the day of rest. The things he blessed are his most treasured of all his creation. He also introduced something else of great importance he sanctified this day. Sanctified is something set apart and declared holy for a religious or divine purpose.

            Mankind makes a huge error of disrespect by ignoring God’s sanctified and holy day of rest. We have become a look at me, gratify me type of society and forget the magnitude and power of God.