Shortened, focused today. Genesis chapter 2, verses 1 to 3. Let's hear God's word.
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing, so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Let's pray.
Father, we thank you for your word for Genesis, the book of beginnings,
teaching us about you, teaching us about the world in which we live,
teaching us about your good order and design.
And we pray that as we look at the whole theme of rest today,
that you would teach us and instruct us,
not only that we would understand with our minds,
but that we would actually experience
all that you have for us today.
That it would change how we live this coming week.
And it would truly give us peace
as we enter into a new week.
Father, help us in Jesus' name.
Amen.
So how are you?
How are you feeling?
Let me guess that a big chunk of your answer,
somewhere in all your words,
there will be things like
busy,
tired,
exhausted.
I mean, I could just fall asleep right now.
And the sad thing is,
the solution to our hectic lives
is to work longer
and do more.
We seem to stuff more and more
into our life.
So we sign up our kids to more activities.
We volunteer at community groups.
We get involved in more ministry.
We go to every family birthday and celebration.
No wonder we get worn out.
We're in a state of restlessness.
And our desire for rest
always seems to evade us.
We rush to work.
We run to the next appointment.
We wrestle with over-commitments.
We're constantly striving to keep up and fit in.
frantically trying to reach our own standards
while desperately trying to meet
everybody else's expectations.
We've become a nation of worriers,
struggling with mental health,
dependent on that drink
to settle our worrying minds.
And sadly for some,
the only means of escape
is to end it all.
We are a restless people.
But guess what?
That's not how it was
at the beginning.
Let's look at this short text
and see what we learn about rest.
Four big things we're going to look at.
First, work is finished.
Look at verse 2.
By the seventh day,
God had finished the work
he had been doing.
If you could peer back in time
before the creation of this world,
nothing is there
except the self-existing,
self-sufficient God.
And then at God's decree,
something begins to happen.
Creation,
imagined in the mind of God,
begins to unfold.
The plan and design
start to take shape.
God's spoken word
enacts it all.
Forming the earth,
the light and the darkness,
the sea and the sky,
the land and vegetation,
and then with intricate precision,
filling those empty voids
with the sun and the moon
and sea creatures
and birds in the sky
and animals and mankind.
The master craftsman of the cosmos
is at work through his word.
Laws to keep the world spinning
in just the right speed.
Forces to keep the tides all in place.
Plants providing food.
Mankind ruling the earth.
Creation is one big display
of God's never-ending glory.
God's word has done its work.
As God spoke through the prophet Isaiah himself
telling us what his word is like,
here it is.
So is my word that goes out from my mouth.
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose
for which I sent it.
God's perfect spoken word
bringing creation
to its conclusion.
Can you picture God?
Surveying all that he has done,
towering over the universe,
creation in its vast array,
the infinite universe,
the ocean depths,
and as God stands back,
he declares,
it is finished.
The work is done.
No more forming or filling.
It's complete.
Everything is as it should be.
No faults and no mistakes.
Verse 2,
By the seventh day,
God had finished
the work he had been doing.
Now for us,
seventh,
this seventh day,
might be just another number
and another day
in the sequence of the week.
But in the Bible,
it's full of symbolism.
Seven means fullness
or completeness.
So when God stops his work
on the seventh day,
he's declaring to us
that his work of creation
is complete.
It's perfectly finished.
No more tweaking or fixing.
Everything is as it should be.
Now that doesn't mean
that God has stopped work
altogether.
Scripture reminds us
that God continues
to sustain the world
by his powerful word.
God still works,
but he has finished
the work of creation.
Everything
is wonderfully complete
by the seventh day.
So the work is finished.
Second,
rest from work.
Let's read verse 2.
By the seventh day,
God had finished
the work he had been doing.
So on the seventh day,
he rested
from all his work.
When our work is done,
or not done
as the case is usually,
usually the way,
we rest,
don't we?
We sit down,
we get a cup of tea,
we relax,
we rest,
because we're tired,
we're worn out
physically,
emotionally,
mentally.
Everything is pressing in
and squeezing us
to death
and we just need to
rest.
Well,
God rests too,
but not because
he's tired.
Keep your finger
in Genesis 2
and jump with me
to Psalm 121.
Psalm 121.
See what it says?
The first few verses,
Psalm 121,
verse 1.
Speaking of our creator God,
I lift up my eyes
to the mountains.
Where does my help
come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip.
He who watches over you
will not slumber.
Indeed,
he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
Back to Genesis 2.
You see,
our creator God
does not need sleep.
He doesn't get tired
or worn out.
So,
what does it mean
when we read in Genesis
that God
rests?
Well,
when the work is finished,
there is nothing
left to do
except enjoy
everything that's been done.
It's like
cooking a meal.
All the work
has been done
and everything's prepared
and it's all cooked
and it's set before you.
You rest
and you just enjoy
what's before you.
Well,
God's rest
is delighting
in all he has made.
You see,
the climax of creation
is not day six
when God created mankind
in his image.
The climax of creation
is day seven.
He creates a day of rest.
In other words,
rest is the goal of creation.
This is what it's all
building up to.
This is the crescendo.
This is what it's all about.
God has created us
so that we might
rest and enjoy it
with him.
Like an artist
who paints a picture.
When they finish painting,
they put the brushes down
and they sit
and they just gaze
in delight
of what they have done.
They admire the wonder
and the beauty
of their work.
But it's not enough
for the artist.
The artist must take
that picture
and hang it
in the public gallery
so that others
can come in
and sit
and enjoy
their handiwork
and be amazed
at what is before them.
And so it is
with God.
He wonders
at the work
of creation.
Everything
in its place.
But it's not enough.
God longs
to share
that creation
with us
so he
makes us
so that we
could enjoy
his works
with him.
He made us
so that we
would rest
with him.
In fact,
it is an
eternal
rest.
Did you notice
how each day
of creation
ends?
Look back
in chapter 1,
the end
of verse 5.
Genesis 1,
the end
of verse 5,
and there was
evening
and there was
morning
the first
day.
End of
verse 8,
and there was
morning
the second
evening
and there was
morning
the second
day.
Verse 13,
and there was
evening
and there was
morning
the third
day.
And on it
goes for the
first six
days of
creation.
There's a
beginning
and there's
an end.
Evening
and morning.
Now look at
the seventh
day,
chapter 2,
verse 2.
We don't
have,
and there was
morning
and there was
evening
on the
seventh day.
There is no
end to
the day.
That's the
point.
It's a
continuous
rest.
When God
finished his
work,
it doesn't
come to an
end,
it just
goes on
for an
eternity.
God
enters into
an eternal
rest.
All of
creation
fulfilling
their role
and purpose.
Mankind
living as
God's image
bearers,
reflecting God's
good and
loving rule.
You see,
when we,
his creatures,
live according
to God's
design and
order,
then we
find true
rest.
No more
striving and
no more
frustration.
Peace,
harmony,
and contentment
with God.
There is no
restlessness.
So the
work is
finished.
There's rest
from work.
And then
there's
remembering
the rest.
Look at
verse 3.
Then God
blessed the
seventh day
and made
it holy
because on
it he
rested from
all the
work of
creating that
he had
done.
This
continuous
rest that
God had
entered was
to be
remembered and
celebrated by
God's people.
God declared
it.
This is to
be holy.
This time
of rest is
to be set
apart,
to be treated
as different.
It was
the beginning
of a
covenant
rest.
What we
see here is
God entering
into a
relationship with
his creation
and blessing
his creation.
God and
man in
perfect harmony.
There's no
hint of
opposition against
God's rule,
just humble
submission to
everything God
says.
Mankind
enjoying God's
rich provision
and living to
serve the
glory of
God.
What a
beautiful
picture of
covenant
rest.
There's no
fighting.
There's no
wars.
There's no
news channels
with the
latest crime
or flood.
No
wickedness
or evil.
No
suffering or
struggles.
No
frustrations
or striving.
It's a
world that
is truly
blessed.
Here's
true
happiness
right here.
But rest
we do
not have,
do we?
The eternal
rest designed
by God
was broken
as mankind
rebelled
against his
rule.
The light
and the
order of
creation
turned into
darkness
and disorder
and chaos.
The covenant
broken,
the relationship
damaged.
They had
fallen for the
lie as we'll
look at in
chapter 3.
Living for the
lie that you
will find a
great arrest.
Be your own
God.
You can do it.
rest.
It brought
restlessness.
But God's
plan for
creation was
never derailed
because God
sought to
rescue and
redeem
mankind
from the
misery and
suffering
so that we
could be
at rest.
In fact,
God gave
us laws,
gave his
people laws
to remember
the rest
that we
were intended
to enjoy.
have a look
with me
please in
Exodus
chapter 20.
Here we
see God's
laws given
through Moses
to the
people so
that they
would know
the rest
that God
had come
to give.
Exodus
chapter 20
which are
the Ten
Commandments
and we'll
pick it up
in verse 8.
So at
this stage
in the
Bible story
the rest
has been
lost.
God brings
his good
laws,
his good
rules to
remind the
people of
where they
can find
rest.
And this
is what God
says in
verse 8.
Remember the
Sabbath day
keeping it
holy.
Six days
you shall
labor and
do all
your work
but on
the seventh
day
is a
Sabbath
to the
Lord your
God.
Sabbath
simply means
rest.
On it
you shall
do no
work.
Neither you
nor your
son or
daughter or
your female
or male
or female
servant
nor your
animals
nor any
foreigner
residing in
your towns.
For in
six days
the Lord
made the
heavens and
the earth
the sea
and all
that is
in them
but he
rested on
the seventh
day.
Therefore
the Lord
blessed the
Sabbath day
and made
it holy.
There's
three things
that would
help them
to know
the rest
that God
would give
that God
intended.
First
that they
would be
refreshed.
People
were to
rest
from their
work.
In fact
everyone
and everything
the animals
and as we
dig into
the laws
even the
land
was to
be
rested.
Have a
look at
Exodus
23
just jump
over the
page.
Exodus
23
verse
12.
23
verse
12.
Six
days
do your
work
but on
the
seventh
day
do no
work
so that
your
ox
and
your
donkey
may
rest
and so
that
the
slave
born
in
your
household
and the
foreigner
living
among
you
may
be
refreshed.
God
wanted to
remind his
people of
what
creation
was like.
To set
this day
aside he
wanted to
give them
a taste
of what
life was
like without
sin and
rebellion.
A life
of continual
refreshment.
Back to
chapter 20.
Lord the
God
I'm your Redeemer.
I alone give you the promised rest that you long for.
But not only redemption,
but also relationship.
The day of rest was put in place to remember
the covenant relationship with God.
Have a look in Exodus chapter 31,
so a few chapters on.
Exodus 31, verses 16 and 17.
Exodus 31, verse 16.
The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath,
again meaning rest,
celebrating it for the generations to come
as a lasting covenant.
It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever
for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth
and on the seventh day he rested
and was refreshed.
A day to remember the relationship
that they have with God.
To bring them back to the creation
that was enjoyed at the beginning.
Man and God in perfect harmony,
living under his good and gracious rule.
You see, God's law isn't harsh.
Can you see the heart of God
for his restless, broken people?
I alone can refresh you.
I alone can redeem you.
I alone can give you a relationship with me
that will satisfy you and fulfil you.
Are you hungry for that kind of rest?
So how do we get to experience this rest?
Are we meant to kind of dig back into Exodus
and read through and follow these laws too?
What if I don't have an ox or a donkey?
Then what?
Or what if my boss tells me I need to work?
Then what?
What if I have to go to Dunn's later on
and work at the till?
Are we meant to follow all these laws too?
Well, the law functioned in two ways.
First, the law reminds us
of what life is meant to be like.
It kind of gives us a picture,
a taste of God's creation rest.
God is saying,
this is what it's like.
But the other way the law functions is
it reminds us
that we can't actually keep God's law.
No matter how many laws
God put in place of the people,
they failed to grasp
and keep the rest that was on offer.
In fact,
there was a special time of rest.
The 49th year,
seven times seven.
Remember that year,
seven being a time of completeness
and perfection?
It was called the year of Jubilee.
When all debts would be cancelled
and lands would be handed back
and people would be let go
and everything would be,
it was like a restart button.
Everything would go back
the way it was meant to be.
God's good law.
Do you know how many times
they celebrated it?
Not once.
Never once do we read in the Bible
God's people celebrating Jubilee
because they failed to follow God's law.
All God's law did was remind them
that you failed again.
You failed again.
You cannot keep the rest.
You see,
the laws that God has given
speak beyond ourselves
to someone else.
The laws are all fulfilled in...
They're fulfilled in...
Hello?
Jesus.
They're fulfilled in Jesus.
Turn with me to Matthew chapter 11.
Familiar words.
Matthew chapter 11.
And verse 28.
Listen.
Come to me,
all you who are weary
and burdened
and I
will give you rest.
The word
that spoke creation
into existence,
the word that enacted
God's eternal rest
has become the
living word,
the incarnate word,
the word made flesh.
And the word of Jesus
now speaks to us
who are restless.
Come to me
and I will give you rest.
In me
is where you will find rest.
Of course,
the rest that Jesus offers
is not a perpetual holiday,
but rest from living life
as if we were God,
as if we created the universe
and we're centre of everything.
It's rest from trying
to meet our own standards
and rest from trying
to meet the expectations
of others.
It's rest from trying
to keep up
and fit in.
It's rest from seeking
to live life
apart from God
and doing things
our own way.
Look at verse 29.
Take my yoke
upon you
and learn from me
for I am
gentle.
I'm not harsh.
What I say to you,
what I give to you
is not harsh.
I'm humble
in heart.
That is,
he's lowly.
He's down at our level.
He's accessible.
It sounds a contradiction,
isn't it?
Take my yoke
upon you.
A yoke
was a big
wooden
heavy beam
that went from one ox
to the other ox.
It was a weight.
And now Jesus
is saying,
take my yoke
upon you.
But here's the thing.
What does he say?
Verse 30,
my yoke is
easy
and my burden
is light.
My yoke
is full of kindness
and full of grace.
It is not harsh.
It's not overbearing.
Jesus is saying,
submit to me.
Surrender your life
to me.
Come under
my yoke.
It's really
a non-yoke.
It's a non-weight.
Submit to me.
Live your life
under me.
Walk with me.
Listen to me
and you will find
rest from
all your restlessness.
Do you know
what qualifies you
to experience
this rest?
Do you see it
in verse 28?
Jesus doesn't say,
when you've managed
to get rid of
all that burden
you're carrying,
when you've managed
to stop having
such a wearisome life,
when you've sorted it out
and got your life
in order,
come to me
and I'll give you rest.
No,
pay attention.
Come to me,
all who are weary
and are burdened
and can't keep up
with this rat race
of life
and all that's going on
and the pressures
and the burdens.
Come to me
just as you are.
no hiding
and I
will give you rest.
Jesus makes it
crystal clear,
chapter 12,
verse 8,
just a few verses on.
He declares,
for the Son of Man
is Lord
of the Sabbath,
ruler
of the rest.
I own
rest
and I
give
rest.
I am the one
who will
refresh you.
I am the one
who will
redeem you.
I am the one
who can restore
your relationship
with God.
Apart from me,
there is no rest.
How could Jesus
say this?
Well,
the answer
comes
from the
final cry
of Jesus
from the
cross.
One last
reference
for us
to look at.
John,
chapter 19.
John's gospel,
chapter 19.
John's gospel,
chapter 19,
verse 28.
John's gospel,
chapter 19,
verse 28.
Jesus is on the cross.
He's coming to the end
of his life.
Verse 28,
later knowing that
everything
had now been
finished.
All his obedient life,
all the work
the father
gave the son
to do
is finished.
And so that
scripture would be
fulfilled,
Jesus said,
I am thirsty.
Verse 30.
When he had received
the drink,
Jesus said,
it is
finished.
With that,
he bowed his head
and gave up
his spirit.
What's
finished?
The work of
redemption
is finished.
The God
who finished
the work
of creation,
the God
who brought
his creative
work to
completion
so that
there was
nothing left
to do
except to
enjoy it,
is the same
God who cries
to us
from the
cross.
I have
completed it.
I finished
the work
of salvation
for you.
Rest.
I've carried
the weight
of sin
and guilt
for you.
I lift
the load
of worry
of your
constant
failing
and falling.
I've
taken
your
restless
sinful
life
and I
give you
rest.
My work
is finished.
Enjoy
it.
Now
and forever
more.
Let's pray.
Father, we
are amazed
to hear
afresh
your word.
That word
spoken at the
beginning of
time
to bring
this world
into existence,
to bring it
to a state
of perfection
and completion.
And that
same word
speaking to us
today into
the darkness
and chaos
and disorder
of our
own life.
It is
finished.
Come to
me,
all you
who are
wearied and
burdened,
and I
will give
you rest.
Confess
your sin.
Let it
all out
before him.
Cast
all your
anxiety
on him.
Give it
to the
creator
and sustainer
of the
universe
who has
your life
in your
hands
the very
day you
were born
and the
very second
you will
die.
Submit
to him,
surrender
to him,
walk with
him,
live under
his word,
and no
rest
today.
Thank you,
Father.
Amen.
We're
going to
sing.