Bible Discussion Thread

Would love to hear thoughts on why God rested. Did He need to rest? Was He celebrating His creation?

Once his creational intention was fulfilled, he ceased creating. We can understand this cessation of work as "rest," as long as it is not abstracted from his work that was previously underway. Furthermore, God's rest is not rest from all work, but rest from the particular work of creation.

The Hebrew word translated "rested" in Genesis 2:2 includes other ideas than that of being tired. One of the main definitions of the Hebrew word Shabbat is "to cease or stop." In Genesis 2:2 the understanding is that God "stopped" His work; He "ceased" creating on the seventh day. All that He had created was good, and His work was finished.

Hello AngelEverett. When we look at Genesis 2:1-3, we see that the Hebrew word used in this instance, is 'Shabath', from which we get 'Sabbath'. And the meaning in these verses, as also wherever God commands His people, Israel, to rest on the Sabbath day, is that they also are to do as He did. And that is, to cease or desist from all work. When we look at the six days of creation, we can believe that everything that God wanted to create, took place in those first six days - no more creative acts took place. When the six days ended, God rested, or ceased from all His 'creative' Work, as nothing more needed to be done.

When the children of Israel were instructed in this matter (e.g. Exodus 31:12-17), they too were to behave as their LORD did; they could work as much as they wanted to, even to the point of exhaustion, in the first six days, but had to set apart the Sabbath to desist from all work, to rest & recuperate in readiness for the 'new week'. God is Spirit & as such never tires, unlike us who are in the flesh & will always need time off to regain our strength & focus. Therefore, as He ceased from His Work after it was all done and saw that it was very good, He instructed His people to do likewise & to sanctify the day (to set it apart as one dissimilar to any other day of toil & other activities). And this keeping of the Sabbath was a clear sign to Israel that they belonged to Him; no other people on Earth received this 'perpetual covenant' - and to this day Israel adheres very strictly to it. Now if only Israel would receive their Messiah & put their faith in Him alone, things would have been a lot different for them (then & now) as God's special people.

Thank you , Chris for your thoughts. I do find it intriguing that the world doesn't just say "ceased" but rested. Something perhaps will know about one day.

Brother Chris,

Welcome back. I missed seeing you here. I hope you had an enjoyable vacation. God Bless!!!

Thanks brother Jesse. We did have a very enjoyable & profitable time visiting relatives & friends in the UK; especially a grand nephew & grand niece whom we hadn't met before. I also had time whilst traveling to view this Site & the comments given, but not enough to set aside to engage in any extended discussion. Every blessing to you brother & to all the dear folk gathering here, lifting up the Lord before all, as well as His precious Word that is able to enlighten hearts & minds with God's Truths.

Chris, glad to have you back.

So great to have had such a memorable vactaion.