God’s Day of Rest

Genesis 2:2-3

On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested(Or ceased) from all his work.And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of

Why would God sanctify His day of rest (cessation from creating)?

Four observations point us toward the answer:

First, His rest is the perfect conclusion to His work of creation.

After God completed His creation work (Genesis 1), we don’t find Him scrambling around the universe to fix poor designs, to educate Himself on parts of the universe beyond His knowledge, or to quell opposition to His reign.

Instead, He rests–perfectly in control of all He has done, knowing everything about all He has created, and ruling absolutely in supreme freedom.

What a fitting celebration of His character!

Second, His rest is ongoing.

Hebrews 4:3…For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, …"In my anger I took an oath: ÔÇÿThey will never enter my place of rest,'" (Ps 95:11)…even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.

Since creation, God has never second-guessed His activity, tried to create the universe again, or given any hint that His initial creation was somehow flawed. It was exactly how He designed and planned it from the start.

Who else could create so perfectly and completely?

Third, His rest is holy.

No man has ever created like God did, and, therefore, no man ever rested like God did. While man enjoyed a measure of rest (from toil) in the beginning, he lost it when he sinned

Genesis 3:17-19…And to the man he said,"Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree…whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you.…All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return."

and he has been laboring against opposition to his rule ever since then. God’s rest is utterly unique.

Fourth, His rest is wonderful.

God can withhold rest from His fallen and depraved creatures. Yet He offers rest to those who believe through Christ!

Matthew 11:28

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

What profound and glorious reasons God had to set apart His day of rest!