The Theology of Rest, Part 1

By Themba Mafico - 8/25/2022

Theology of Rest Part 1

by Themba Mafico - 8/25/2022

    Rest is the greatest commandment that God gave to humankind as an invaluable benefit as they bear the relentless pressure of their brief sojourn on earth. The Bible shows that God rewarded humans with the gift of rest (Exod 3:14, 1 Kgs 8:56, Isa 28:12). But God did not regard rest as only necessary to humans, God also rested from the work that he had done. In Genesis 2:1-3 we read that God rested after seven days of creating the universe. 

“Thus, the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So, God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. “

    This text is significant in many ways. First, it shows how God in the creating the universe observed a healthy lifestyle by balancing work and rest. This assertion is reinforced by Exodus 31:17 where we read Moses urging the Israelites to rest on the 7^th day because God rested on the 7^th day to be refreshed. In the next blog, we will notice how this text emphasized rest so much that even the dunderhead might realize that God regards rest as the highest mode of worshiping God.

Summary 

    The main takeaway from the biblical teaching about rest is this. If God, the creator of the heavens and tcontinually.h all its host needed rest to be refreshed, who do human beings think they are to live a workaholic lifestyle continually? Moses taught the Israelites to rest as God did. Therefore, to be godlike, humans ought to  rest. That explains why workaholics, people who ignored the sabbath day, were executed in biblical times. In modern times, execution is inflicted automatically by heart attack, burnout, and a myriad of debilitating conditions that could be avoid simply by balancing work and rest.. 

Prayer 

    God, our creator and exemplar, help us to be wise by emulating you. Because you made us a little lower than God, may we exhibit our divine nature rather than the human traits. Because you created us in the image of God, may we be godly and godlike by living a healthy lifestyle by balancing work and rest. Amen