2007-01-04 00:07:46 · 19 answers · asked by Nemesis 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We have another Church Racetrack question here (Christians running in circles around it)...
I'm always amused at how Christians attempt to justify their Grand Poohbah's inherent laziness, and then 5 minutes later attempt to prove something that would require him to be omnipotent.
2007-01-04 00:13:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
He rested not because he was lacking in power or tired, but because he had finished his work of creating the earth, and because he wanted to take time out to enjoy his new creation, and set an example for humans to follow in keeping the Sabbath.
As for onewhosubmit's answer, even the Qur'an text he cites shows that God did not work on the seventh day, instead he sat on his throne. There are also Qur'an texts that condemn people who break the Sabbath, which suggests that God wants people to keep it, see Sura 2:65-66; 4:47; 4:154; 7:163; 16:124.
2007-01-04 10:15:07 · answer #2 · answered by Beng T 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why did God rest on “the seventh day”? Of course, he did not rest because he was tired. Jehovah enjoys an “abundance of dynamic energy” and “does not tire out or grow weary.” (Isaiah 40:26, 28) Nor did God proceed to rest because he needed a break or a change of pace, for Jesus told us: “My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.” (John 5:17) In any case, “God is a Spirit” and is not bound by the bodily cycles and needs of physical creatures.—John 4:24.
How can we gain some insight into the reason why God rested on “the seventh day”? By noting that, although very pleased with what he had accomplished during the long period of the six preceding creative ‘days,’ God specifically blessed “the seventh day” and pronounced it “sacred.” The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines “sacred” as “exclusively dedicated or appropriated (to a god or to some religious purpose).” Thus, Jehovah’s blessing “the seventh day” and pronouncing it sacred indicates that it and his “rest” must have some connection with his sacred will and purpose rather than with any needs on his part. What is that connection?
During the six preceding creative ‘days,’ God had made and set into motion all the cycles and laws governing the operations of the earth and everything around it. Scientists are now learning how wonderfully designed these are. Toward the close of the “sixth day,” God created the first human pair and placed them in “a garden in Eden, toward the east.” Finally, God pronounced his purpose regarding the human family and the earth in these prophetic words: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth.”—Genesis 1:28, 31; 2:8.
As the “sixth day” of creation came to a close, the account tells us: “God saw everything he had made and, look! it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) God was satisfied with everything he had made. He thus rested, or desisted, from further creative work with respect to the earth. As perfect and beautiful as the paradise garden then was, however, it covered only a small area, and there were just two human creatures on earth. It would take time for the earth and the human family to reach the state that God purposed. For this reason, he appointed a “seventh day” that would allow all that he had created in the preceding six ‘days’ to develop in harmony with his sacred will. (Compare Ephesians 1:11.) As “the seventh day” comes to its close, the earth will have become a global paradise inhabited eternally by a family of perfect humans. (Isaiah 45:18) “The seventh day” is set aside for, or dedicated to, the outworking and fulfilling of God’s will regarding the earth and humankind. In that sense it is “sacred.”
So God rested from his creative work on “the seventh day.” It is as though he stepped back and allowed what he set in motion to run its course. He has full confidence that by the end of “the seventh day,” everything will have turned out exactly as he has purposed. Even if there have been obstacles, they will have been overcome. All obedient mankind will benefit when God’s will becomes a full reality. Nothing will prevent this because God’s blessing is on “the seventh day,” and he made it “sacred.” What a glorious prospect for obedient mankind!
2007-01-04 08:11:28 · answer #3 · answered by Tomoyo K 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Need is not an operative word that was used. And rest is not a diminuitive thing as you insinuate. God created and saw that it was good, he rested because rest is good and a thing that is to be thankful for, it indicates rulership or control over a realm, it indicates completion or an interim to completion , rest is a showing of power , the ability to rest and sovereignty over work.
2007-01-04 08:14:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a Bible thumper and how we were all created (science? God? Evolution?) is not really important to me, but for the sake of this question....
God created ALL THIS in 6 days. We humans sit on our a** checking email for 45 minutes, and have to get up and go have a 15 minute smoke break.
Dude, He has more power than you'll ever have. Don't bother to question it - we're too lazy.
2007-01-04 08:12:05 · answer #5 · answered by gabound75 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God is not just powerful, he is power. His resting on the seventh day was only to show us that His creating of this earth was complete. He then gave us dominion, to fill and cultivate this earth. He doesn't need to rest, cause He is rest.
2007-01-04 08:17:55 · answer #6 · answered by LENZ 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You sound like my boss! You want to begrudge God taking a day off after creating the heavens and the earth? I mean, come on, all work and no play makes God a dull dieity. Afterall, he did more before 9 a.m. than you are going to do in your whole life.
2007-01-04 08:13:28 · answer #7 · answered by James M 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Who said God needed to rest not us nor did God, But God was setting a type for the 1000 yrs. Millennium, The 7th day you are referring to in Geneses, is a 1000 yrs time frame. God never sleep nor rest as what we call rest. Remember God is a spirit.
2007-01-04 08:12:51 · answer #8 · answered by birdsflies 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
"All work and no play". Why should he work ALL THE TIME. He deserves to set back and look upon his creation. The choices people on the earth have been a disappointment to him, but think about the rest of his creation, the heavens, animals, sea's and their inhabitants. And Jehovah IS a Creator, not WAS a creator, so he is continuing to create new things to make his heart rejoice. We should set back at least one day a week and take the time to enjoy them as well, but don't forget to give thanks to God for creating them for you to enjoy.
2007-01-04 08:16:16 · answer #9 · answered by professor grey 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Maybe he was a union member.
It's not like Adam was given chores to do in Eden. Seems like all he did was walk around and eat fruit.
And you missed the Golden opportunity. A God should be able to create everything with one snap. Obviously some things take time and maybe he wanted to spend time with Mrs. God or play chess with Satan.
2007-01-04 08:13:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋