{"id":2252326,"date":"2024-05-24T16:12:10","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T20:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/created-to-rest-entering-into-joyful-communion-with-god\/"},"modified":"2024-05-24T16:16:33","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T20:16:33","slug":"created-to-rest-entering-into-joyful-communion-with-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/created-to-rest-entering-into-joyful-communion-with-god\/","title":{"rendered":"Designed for Relaxation: Embracing Blissful Connection with God"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcreated-to-rest-entering-into-joyful-communion-with-god%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2252326&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-times-issues-multiple-corrections-for-article-falsely-claiming-900000-u-s-children-have-been-hospitalized-for-covid-19-during-pandemic\/\" title=\"New York Times Issues Multiple Corrections For Article Falsely Claiming 900,000 U.S. Children Have Been Hospitalized For COVID-19 During Pandemic\">article discusses<\/a> the concept of rest in connection with God&#8217;s creation and the significance of the Sabbath. It explores how rest is more than recuperation but a reflection of God&#8217;s desire for an intimate relationship with humanity and creation. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/media-keep-plugging-the-shoddy-dominion-defamation-suit-even-as-fox-hosts-texts-discredit-it\/\" title=\"Media Keep Plugging The Shoddy Dominion Defamation Suit Even As Fox Host\u2019s Texts Discredit It\">text emphasizes<\/a> the importance of balancing work and rest according \u200dto God&#8217;s ordained pattern. The article delves into the interplay of rest, God&#8217;s creation, \u200cand the sacredness\u2064 of the \u2062Sabbath. It underlines that rest goes beyond \u2062physical recovery,\u2064 symbolizing God&#8217;s yearning for a close bond with humankind and the world. The narrative\u200d stresses the essential harmony between work and rest as established\u2063 by God&#8217;s design.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/lifestyle\/\">  Lifestyle &#038; Human Interest <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/theologyofwork\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/theologyofwork\/%20\"><span>Theology of Work Project<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   May 24, 2024 at 11:16am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p><em>This is Part 1 of a six-part series on rest and work. The introduction can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/balancing-rhythms-rest-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>We see in the book of Genesis that after six days of creation, God looks upon the works of His hands and pronounces it \u201cvery good.\u201d But it is not until the seventh day that God calls something \u201choly\u201d \u2014 the day of rest that He interjects into the time and space of creation.<\/p>\n<p>The seventh day receives the attribution of holiness, which is the very essence of God\u2019s character. The two short verses of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Genesis+2%3A2-3&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Genesis 2:2-3<\/a> emphasize three times that God rested.<\/p>\n<p>Today, many people think of rest as something they have to do, so that they can work. Given the choice, some people would prefer bodies that did not need rest.<\/p>\n<p>In modern society, rest is often seen as the opposite of productivity. Rest is a functional necessity, serving the higher end of work, devoid of higher meaning or significance.<\/p>\n<p>Is this view of rest and work <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/bible-proof-tsunami-recent-archaeological-finds-confirms-accuracy-scripture-expert-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">biblically accurate<\/a>?<\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Genesis+2&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Genesis 2<\/a> God both works and rests. God, in His omnipotence, clearly does not need to rest for reasons of physical tiredness or exhaustion.<\/p>\n<p>He does not need to rest, so that He can become more productive, given that He has already created everything. So clearly there is something more to rest than maintaining energy for the production line.<\/p>\n<p>It is also interesting that the first thing in all of creation that is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-francis-we-are-racists-we-are-usually-racists\/\" title=\"Pope Francis: \u2018We Are Racists, We Are usually Racists\u2019\">made holy<\/a> is not a person or even an object, rather it is a day. What then is the significance of rest for God, and why does He make this day holy?<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Do you view rest as an inconvenience?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Genesis 2 does not say why God makes the seventh day holy, merely that He does make it holy. So it helps to turn to the concept of Sabbath as it is developed throughout <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/african-church-elder-stands-firm-denominations-rewrite-marriage-holds-bible-high-declares-word-god\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Bible<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Surprisingly, the term Sabbath does not appear again until <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Exodus+16%3A23-29&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Exodus 16:23-29<\/a>, when Israel is wandering in the wilderness after being delivered from Egypt.<\/p>\n<p>The next significant mention of Sabbath occurs in the giving of the Ten Commandments in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Exodus+20%3A8-11&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Exodus 20:8-11<\/a>. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/leaked-ibm-training-reveals-unhealthy-obsession-with-demonizing-white-people-report\/\" title=\"IBM Training Leaked, Allegedly Demonizes White People: Report\">fourth commandment<\/a> to remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy is grounded upon God\u2019s pattern of working six days and resting on the seventh, making an explicit link between creation and Sabbath observance, \u201cFor in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Exodus+20%3A11&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Exodus 20:11a<\/a>). Israel is commanded to rest because God rests in creation.<\/p>\n<p>It is important to note that the sanctity of rest in no way undervalues the importance or dignity of work. Rather, these opening chapters of Genesis establish a pattern of work and rest; to do one without the other is a deviation from God\u2019s created order.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, the fourth commandment combines both a command to work and to rest: \u201cSix days you shall labor and do all your work.\u201d God affirms the goodness of work and the sacredness of rest, with the two beautifully woven together.<\/p>\n<p>The fourth commandment as given in Deuteronomy supports the rhythm of work and rest with a different argument \u2014 because of God\u2019s deliverance of His people out of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/new-theory-gives-explanation-egypts-great-sphinx-ancients-witnessed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Egypt<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRemember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Deuteronomy+5%3A13-15&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Deuteronomy 5:13-15<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>People should work and rest as God instructs because of His model in creation and His model in redemption.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Exodus+31%3A16-17&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Exodus 31:16-17<\/a> provides even deeper insights, \u201cTherefore the Israelites shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Two important discoveries come from this passage. First, the Sabbath functions as a sign, pointing to the \u201ccovenant\u201d between God and Israel. This covenant embodies the privileged relationship that Israel enjoys with God, which begins with the patriarch Abraham.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, keeping Sabbath is a living out of the special relationship God\u2019s people enjoy with God. Second, the Sabbath is a day when God Himself is \u201crefreshed,\u201d and He wants His people to experience that same refreshment.<\/p>\n<p>Thus the Sabbath enacts God\u2019s desire to be in intimate relationship with His people. God offers His people weekly refreshment through communion with Him and with His creation.<\/p>\n<p>Further evidence of this relational aspect of the Sabbath emerges in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+20%3A12&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ezekiel 20:12<\/a>, \u201cI gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to this verse, God gives <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/leading-mobile-phone-provider-flies-pro-israel-sky-banners-nationwide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Israel<\/a> \u201cHis Sabbaths\u201d (the refreshment that belongs to Him, as a relational sign between God and His people), so that they might know who He is, as well as know the sanctifying effects of relating with Him.<\/p>\n<p>The sign is not arbitrary, like a tattoo or a secret gesture. Instead, the sign of Sabbath is real participation with God in the delight of resting in God\u2019s own creation.<\/p>\n<p>God chooses not to be distant from His creation. Rather, God chooses to intimately commune with His people and with His creation through their participation in His Sabbath rest.<\/p>\n<p>The New Testament extends both the directive to enter into God\u2019s rest and the possibility of doing so. Hebrews chapter four encourages Jesus\u2019 followers to rest. \u201cTherefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Hebrews+4%3A1&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hebrews 4:1<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>The ancient Israelites, according to Hebrews, fail to take God up on His offer of rest because they are disobedient to Him. But followers of Jesus receive good news about the rest God promises from the beginning.<\/p>\n<p>Because of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/share-gospel-everyone-no-case-hopeless-jesus-lives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christ\u2019s sacrifice<\/a>, believers are able to accept God\u2019s offer of rest regardless of who they are or where they live. \u201cA Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God\u2019s rest also cease from their labors as God did from His. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Heb.+4%3A9-11&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hebrews 4:9-11<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>These texts convey a deeper significance to rest, communicated by this notion of \u201cSabbath.\u201d Rest is much more than recuperating from a hectic, tiring week. It is the affirmation of a special relationship people have with God.<\/p>\n<p>Rest is a privilege graciously extended by a God who desires His creation to delight in the refreshment He enjoys. The Sabbath is holy because it is a day that belongs to God, and He graciously chooses to share Himself with His creation. He is a generous God who delights in the delight of His people.<\/p>\n<p>Rest communicates the character of a holy God who relishes in the act of creation (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Proverbs+8%3A30-31&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Proverbs 8:30-31<\/a>) and desires to commune with it. Rest is the gracious outworking of God\u2019s desire to be in intimate, joyful relationship with humanity and creation.<\/p>\n<p>In sum, God sanctifies the seventh day in creation to set it apart from the other days as a day of rest. God does not need to rest, yet finds rest refreshing nonetheless. God rests, so His people can partake in His refreshment.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover His rest from work fosters His relationship with His people. People take delight in the \u201cvery good\u201d creation of God, upon which humanity\u2019s work is meant to build.<\/p>\n<p>In the first two chapters of Genesis, God both works and rests. God also creates people to be similar to Him: \u201cThen God said, \u2018Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth\u2019\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Genesis+1%3A26&#038;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Genesis 1:26<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>God creates people with a job in mind: responsibility over creation. Both the fact that people are created in God\u2019s image and the immensity of the task He entrusts to them prove that God intends His people to be workers.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, He intends His people to be resters after the pattern He models on the seventh day of creation. God\u2019s dual invitations to work and to rest serve as a validation of the special bond between God, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/zg-egyptian-comb-discovered-in-israel-records-humanitys-struggle-with-an-ancient-foe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">humanity<\/a>, and creation.<\/p>\n<p><em>This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-loeffler-fires-back-after-ossoff-accuses-her-of-campaigning-with-kkk-member\/\" title=\"Sen. Loeffler Fires Back After Ossoff Accuses Her of Campaigning with KKK Member\">article appeared originally<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theologyofwork.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Theology of Work<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"author-info-45832\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/theologyofwork\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-45832\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45832\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45832\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>  The Theology of Work Project (TOW) is an independent, international non-profit organization dedicated to researching, writing, and distributing materials with a biblical perspective on non-church workplaces. The Project\u2019s primary mission is to produce resources covering every book of the Bible. We are also developing resources for the most significant topics in today\u2019s workplace, such as calling, ethics, truth &#038; deception, provision &#038; wealth, motivation, finance, and economics and society. Wherever possible, we collaborate with other faith-and-work organizations, churches, universities and seminaries to help equip workplace Christians for meaningful and fruitful work of every kind. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore compelling insights on rest and work in this six-part series by Theology of Work Project. Delve into the significance of rest as seen in the book of Genesis, where God reflects on His creations after six days of work. Stay tuned for more thought-provoking content on lifestyle and human interest<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3167,"featured_media":2252327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/girl-resting-against-a-wall.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2252326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/girl-resting-against-a-wall.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2252326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3167"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2252326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2252326\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2252327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2252326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2252326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2252326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}