Genesis 2:1-15

Reframes our call to rest and to work as we seek to live faithfully in God’s created kingdom.

Outline

  • First, Reflect the Kingdom of God in our Rest (Gen. 2:1-3)
    • First, The purpose of God’s rest shapes the purpose of our rest
    • The pattern of God’s rest shapes the pattern of our rest
  • Second, Reflect the Kingdom of God in our work (2:4-14)
    • Our work should reflect why we were created
    • Our work should serve where God has placed us

Christ Connections

  • On the 7th day, God’s rest declares “it is finished” about the original creation in a way that echoes through the ages to the cross where Jesus proclaims “it is finished” as he ushers in the new creation.
  • Genesis 2 shows us what Sabbath rest looks like and the rest of the Bible points to a final Sabbath rest. Jesus comes and fulfills this Sabbath by bringing eternal rest. How does he do it? On the 6th day of the week, he dies on a cross; on the 7th day of the week, he rests in a tomb; then he is raised from the dead and ushers in the new creation on the first day of a new week.
  • Adam fails to rule creation, eventually sinning and returning to dust. Jesus takes on the dust of judgment at the cross so that he might save those who are formed from it. Jesus forfeits the breath of life in his death. Through his resurrection, he becomes the forerunner of those who will experience newness of life. We witness God impart physical life in the first Adam, just as he will one day impart spiritual life through the second Adam.

Applications

  • Creation was designed with rest in mind. We must pursue rest to fulfill our call in creation. When we embrace a new approach to rest it means we
    • Will rest in God
    • Will know our limits
    • We will love our family
  • Our work in life should display a dependence on God in ruling in creation.