Rest

 

“The LORD rested on the seventh day” Exodus 20:11

Someone rightly asked ‘was He tired’

In terms of science, I would say He may well have been tired! – the greatness of creation, the detail of design, the interaction of ecology, the initiation of self reproduction, the balance of the chemicals to make life possible, to produce a very, very finely tuned earth etc, He might well have been tired in human terms.

But no! It means something better. In Genesis 1:31 “God looked over all He had made and He saw it was excellent in every way.”  God rested on the seventh day because the work of creation was complete. God’s final quality control check made Him satisfied all was well.

And so in Exodus 20, the LORD God invited the Hebrews to refocus on what God had done instead of their own achievements.

This concept of resting in God’s work , is explained in the New Testament book called Hebrews. Chapter 4 emphasises this difference – God invites us to rest (by believing) in Him as creator, but now also invites us to rest (by believing) in the achievements of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a perfect life so that He could make a perfect sacrifice to take away all our sins and bring us back to God (a new creation).

Some people try to achieve forgiveness with God by praying, paying, performing good works, But God says ‘ I have done the work of reconciliation by Jesus – just believe and rest in Him’

Bible verse to read : 2 Corinthians 5:19

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself”.

Jesus proved His sacrifice for sins was complete, by rising from death. Now in heaven He is the mediator who can reconcile God and people. He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone.

God now invites all people to rest from self achievement, self sacrifice , to rest in the fullness of Jesus, the Son of God , the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Please pause and hear the Saviour say:

“Come to Me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”

Respond to Him directly today and find the peace and joy of REST in Him.