Genesis 2:1-25 continuing…

For some reason there are some who read chapter two of Genesis and see contradiction. I suppose that it because they want to find contradiction within God’s Word. However, there is none. When you come to Scripture with a hatred for God and anything He might say it will be a very biased look. There have been many cases of avowed athiest who have ventured into the journey of reading God’s Word to prove it is full of errors, contradictions, and that it is only the words of men to only find the truth of Jesus Christ and trusted Him as their Lord and Savior. One of those is Lee Strobell, and another is Josh McDowell. Both of these men are now devoted Christian men and great apologist for the Word of God.

What I find in this chapter of Genesis is a further explanation of the Creator’s creation. It is a greater clarification of the creation of man, and his place and ministry on the earth.

We also find here the first mention of the Seventh day, or Sabbath day as a day of rest; it is the day God rested from creating. According to the Deist God created all that is and then left it with us and does not intervene into the affairs of men. It seems to me that the rest of Scripture quickly puts this thought to silence. We will see, very quickly, in the text that God walked with Adam in the garden. That does not sound to me like He distanced Himself from His creation.

In veres 1 – 3 we find the FIRST SABBATH. This is actually a continuation of the creation events of chapter one. God had created everything that was necessary to sustain life on earth. In particular to sustain, benefit, beautify, and fulfill the lives of the creation which is made “In our [God’s] image,after our [God’s] likeness”.

After making all things for man’s physical well being He teaches us a wonderful lesson. A lesson of rest and also for us a lesson of worship. Was God exhausted from all the work He had done? Not hardly. Did He take a leave of absence and leave the world and His whole creation on its own? Again, not at all.

His rest shows a completion to all that He began; “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…” Philippians 1:6. It gives us promise and hope that as His New Creation in Christ He will complete what He began.

If we are genuinely resting in Him we will have times of personal, individual fellowship with Him. We will also seek every opportunity to learn more of Him His power and glory, His Son, His Spirit, His Word, and His work in our own and other’s lives. We do this through God’s institution of the local church.

We cease from our own laboring to please God and our own way, and rest in His arms of grace. We realize all our efforts, works and “…righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6), and only His will suffice.

The Sabbath – a day of rest – is for our enjoying the benefits of a week long job and work well done, and especially for the worship of God Almighty, who made it all. That Sabbath rest is fulfilled in Christ Jesus, and He arose on the first day of the week, having finished the works of the Law. On the Eighth day, which is the First day of a brand new week we worship the One who rose again. The law was completed in Him.