Daily Devotions
Genesis
"Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it…" Genesis 2:3
Text: Genesis 2 : 1 - 25
ANOTHER LOOK AT THE CREATION ACCOUNT
Out of nothing, God created the heavens and the earth! No matter how well a person may write, it would be impossible to squeeze into one chapter the astonishing feats accomplished, when God created the earth! Thus, the author took time to reflect further on God’s creation – only this time the focus was on Man (Genesis 2 also mentions creation – but with more specific details concerning the creation of Adam and Eve).
THE SANCTIFYING OF THE SEVENTH DAY
Many are familiar with the doctrine of the Sabbath. However, not many may know that this concept may be traced to the following text.
“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them,
were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work
which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from
all His work which he had done. Then God blessed the
seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested
from all His work which God had created and made.”GENESIS 2:1-3
1. Understanding the Concept of the Sabbath
The word “Sabbath” literally means “cessation”. When God had completed all that He had planned and set out to do, He “rested” or “ceased” from all His activities!
2. The Significance of the Concept of the Sabbath
It was God who “sanctified” the concept of the Sabbath as a day of cessation of normal work. What did God do when He “rested” from His labours? Surely, He must have taken time to enjoy all that He had created.
3. The Law of the Sabbath
It was God who gave to the children of Israel the Law of the Sabbath (4th Commandment – Cf. Exodus 20:1-17 for the whole Decalogue). This particular Law became one of the special signs of the Covenantal relationship God established with Israel.
“The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to
observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign
between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in
six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth,
and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”EXODUS 31:16-17
4. The Practice of Setting Aside a Day for Refreshing Worship and Service
Work is good and noble. God Himself worked to create the heavens and the earth. However, man needs to take time out for rest from his work! God planned the Sabbath for man so that he might be refreshed in body and spirit before he resumes work again! Faith enables us to fathom and appreciate all that God does and teaches!