Genesis 2:1-3
The Glorious Rest

The story isn't over. It has all pointed to man. The whole story leads up to him, but we'd be making a tragic mistake if we ended it here. Because then man's work would have no purpose and he would have no destiny. Then man would start to think he's the reason for Creation. He's not. He's the focus of this creation story. And he is the crowning glory of Creation. But the glory of God is the reason. And so man must know that he is created to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

  1. God establishes the Sabbath Day
    1. The Sabbath calls Adam to imitate God
      1. Adam was created in the image of God, and therefore is to look at what God does and mimic it.
      2. Just as God named - and thus expressed dominion over - day and night, sky and sea and dry land
      3. So Adam was given dominion over the creatures
      4. Now God rests, setting an example for Adam that he might rest.
    2. The Sabbath is made for Adam
      1. Remember the man-centered focus of this story
      2. It is for man's benefit
        1. God doesn't rest because he's tired
        2. He rests so that he may sanctify a day of rest and invite Adam to share it.
      3. It draws man's eyes upward
        1. God has previously focused man's attention on the creation
          1. These are the things over which you have dominion
          2. Here is what I have given you to eat
        2. Now he turns Adam's attention to the Creator
      4. Adam's work was not burdensome
        1. Yet even he needed a break
        2. How much more we?
          1. How often our work draws our attention away from God so that we scarcely consider him.
          2. We are caught up in deadline pressures, office politics, children with runny noses, aches and pains, heartaches and disappointments, frustrations, irritations, distractions, setbacks and failures.
        3. Yet even he needed to have his attention focused specifically on praising and enjoying his Creator
        4. If such a day is - against all hope - offered also to us, shall we not seize upon it?
        5. Is our work so engrossing and fulfilling that when God offers us a day off we say, "Thanks, but no thanks" or study ways that we can get out of it?
        6. Snap out of it!
      5. What a glorious privilege
        1. How Adam must have enjoyed it and looked forward to it
        2. Here, on this day, he may present himself to God to enjoy the presence of his Creator and praise him.
        3. How much more should we look forward to such a day in our week when our days of work are filled with toil and frustration
    3. The Sabbath gives Adam a destiny
      1. It says more than just, "Work 6 days and rest the 7th"
      2. It says, "Work and you will rest."
      3. It is the promise of the covenant God is making with Adam
        1. Do as I command - work
        2. And you will enter my rest and be satisfied with your work.
      4. As good as things are, they can get better.

Without a Sabbath, we have no destiny, nothing to look forward to. Our religion is merely a matter of making this world a better place to live in. That work wasn't even enough for Adam in a perfect world. How could it be enough for us. If Adam in paradise needed a Sabbath Day, a day of destiny; how much more do we?

  1. The rest of Scripture is about the meaning of this day
    1. Adam forfeits this rest by disobedience
      1. Hence the curse focuses on the toilsome nature of work (3:16ff.)
      2. All the misery that follows - old age, death, etc. - is a testimony that all that this day promised has been lost.
      3. This is why the genealogy of ch. 5 exists - "And he died" is repeated over and over again.
      4. This is why
    2. A series of rest-restorers is presented
      1. Genesis 3:15 Adam names "Eve"
      2. Cain "the Lord"
      3. Noah "Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. 29And he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed.""
      4. Moses -
        1. The people labor under Pharoah, Moses gives rest
        2. God promise people rest (in the land) at Sinai
      5. Joshua - 21:44 "The Lord gave them rest all around"
      6. David - 2 Samuel 7:1 The Lord gave [David] rest from his enemies
      7. Solomon
        1. 1 Kings 5:4 4But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence.
        2. 1 Kings 8:54 Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.
      8. But, all of these were sinners and could not truly restore what Adam lost
    3. Christ finally appears as the true rest restorer
      1. This is why he heals - repealing the curse
      2. This is why he raises from the dead
      3. This is why he cries out "Come to me"

In light of this, is it not apparent that the Sabbath must continue? We are a Sabbath-religion. Our entire holy book centers around the idea of the Sabbath.

  1. Christ has restored what Adam forfeited
    1. He has entered the heavenly rest
      1. On earth he felt the effects of the curse, no longer.
      2. On earth he was mortal, he died. Death no longer has power over him.
      3. Why belabor this? Because this is not just his experience, it is yours.
      4. He has brought us into that heavenly rest
    2. He has sanctified a new day
      1. As Adam was called to imitate God, so are we to imitate Christ
      2. Christ made this day holy by resting from his work of creating you anew in himself.
      3. On this day, we rest in the finished work of Christ
    3. When he comes again, faith will give way to sight
      1. The curse will be visibly repealed

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