repeated word: completed, finished, ceased all the work. The verb, cease, " This is not a rest from exhaustion; it is the cessation of the work of creation (NET)." God blessed and made it holy, "to set something apart; to distinguish it.” On the literal level the phrase means essentially that God made this day different.But within the context of the Law, it means that the day belonged to God; it was for rest from ordinary labor, worship, and spiritual service. The day belonged to God (NET)." In the first 6 days of creation, God separated light/darkness, upper water/lower water, and day/night.
"The idea of separation is critical to this chapter... The verb is important to the Law in general. In Leviticus God separates between clean and unclean, holy and profane (Lev 10:10, 11:47 and 20:24); in Exodus God separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exod 26:33)."
Summary: God separated the day He works from the day that the work is finished. That day is for special use. Later on, God revealed that this day belongs to God.
Reflection: Probably when the Israelites read this they would realized that the creation has all finished. In other words, whatever we need God has already provided for us. He has shown us He has the authority over us. He gave us the purpose of life and the means to fulfill it. Those are all done deal. Second, they would realized that what God told them to do (to rest on the 7th day-Sabbath) has its origin from what God has done Himself. Every time when we have the 7th rest is the time to remember the Creator. I remember I saw a picture when I prepared Sunday school. A farmer got up from his bending and looked up to sky. For 6 days we have been looking at our work, our homes, and our families, and on the 7th day stopped. Regroup your thinking and focus and put all your attention to your Creator.
Audrey
Comments