God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. To sanctify means to set apart. God set this day apart because it marked the completion of His creative work.
This is the first time the idea of something being sanctified appears in Scripture. Before a place is sanctified, before a priest is sanctified, before an offering is sanctified, God sanctifies time. He sets apart the seventh day as special.
This also teaches us that God built rhythm into creation. Man was not designed to run endlessly without worship, reflection, and rest. God made man to live under His order, not in constant striving. Rest is not laziness when it is received according to God’s design. It reminds us that we are dependent creatures, not the Creator.
The seventh day also reminds us that God’s work was complete and good. He rested because He was done.
For the believer, this points us again to rest in Christ. Hebrews 4 speaks of entering into God’s rest. The greatest rest a person can have is not merely physical rest, but spiritual rest - resting from trying to save ourselves and trusting fully in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. To sanctify means to set apart. God set this day apart because it marked the completion of His creative work.
This is the first time the idea of something being sanctified appears in Scripture. Before a place is sanctified, before a priest is sanctified, before an offering is sanctified, God sanctifies time. He sets apart the seventh day as special.
This also teaches us that God built rhythm into creation. Man was not designed to run endlessly without worship, reflection, and rest. God made man to live under His order, not in constant striving. Rest is not laziness when it is received according to God’s design. It reminds us that we are dependent creatures, not the Creator.
The seventh day also reminds us that God’s work was complete and good. He rested because He was done.
For the believer, this points us again to rest in Christ. Hebrews 4 speaks of entering into God’s rest. The greatest rest a person can have is not merely physical rest, but spiritual rest - resting from trying to save ourselves and trusting fully in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”