Genesis 2:3 - Making the Sabbath Holy

I wanted to sit with the idea of rest this week, so we're going to nerd out over some Torah.

Starting with Prayer

BLESS ADONAI who is blessed. Blessed is Adonai who is blessed now and forever. Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has chosen us from among the peoples, and given us the Torah. Blessed are You, Adonai, who gives the Torah.

Father God, You are good. Thank you for your example of creative work and intentional rest. Thank you for a rhythm of peace and rest that lets us tap into Your plan for us. Thank you for making me according to your will and to delight in Your word and Your instruction. I pray that you slow our time today, slow our minds, and let us fully receive Your Word with meekness. I pray that You give us a spirit of grace and forgiveness for our busyness, for putting other things before our time with You. I pray that Your favor and mercy over us as we dive into Your Word today. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

Today’s Reading

Genesis 2:1-3 from the Complete Jewish Bible translation

God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce.

Read all of Genesis 2 for context

from the Complete Jewish Bible translation

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them. On the seventh day God was finished with his work which he had made, so he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce.

Here is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created. On the day when Adonai, God, made earth and heaven, there was as yet no wild bush on the earth, and no wild plant had as yet sprung up; for Adonai, God, had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no one to cultivate the ground. Rather, a mist went up from the earth which watered the entire surface of the ground.

Then Adonai, God, formed a person from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, so that he became a living being. Adonai, God, planted a garden toward the east, in ‘Eden, and there he put the person whom he had formed. Out of the ground Adonai, God, caused to grow every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10 A river went out of ‘Eden to water the garden, and from there it divided into four streams. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it winds throughout the land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. 13 The name of the second river is Gichon; it winds throughout the land of Kush. 14 The name of the third river is Tigris; it is the one that flows toward the east of Ashur. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

15 Adonai, God, took the person and put him in the garden of ‘Eden to cultivate and care for it. 16 Adonai, God, gave the person this order: “You may freely eat from every tree in the garden 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You are not to eat from it, because on the day that you eat from it, it will become certain that you will die.”

18 Adonai, God, said, “It isn’t good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him.” 19 So from the ground Adonai, God, formed every wild animal and every bird that flies in the air, and he brought them to the person to see what he would call them. Whatever the person would call each living creature, that was to be its name. 20 So the person gave names to all the livestock, to the birds in the air and to every wild animal. But for Adam there was not found a companion suitable for helping him.

21 Then God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the person; and while he was sleeping, he took one of his ribs and closed up the place from which he took it with flesh. 22 The rib which Adonai, God, had taken from the person, he made a woman-person; and he brought her to the man-person. 23 The man-person said, “At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She is to be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 This is why a man is to leave his father and mother and stick with his wife, and they are to be one flesh.

25 They were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed.


Jenn's Two Cents

In Genesis 2, we're introduced to the theology of sanctification – setting apart – and God-appointed rest.

This set apart and appointed time for rest is later embedded in the Ten Commandments as a commandment to be observed by God's people (Exodus 20:8-11). God instructs His people to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. This commandment echoes the rest God modeled here in Genesis. The observance of the Sabbath becomes a sign of allegiance to the Creator, a recognition of His authority, and a demonstration of trust in His provision.

When we connect Genesis 2:1-3 with Exodus, we see a divine pattern unfold – God Himself rested after creation, and He invites us to follow His example by observing the Sabbath.