Day 687: Food and rest - Genesis 1 vs 29 – 2 vs 3

29-30 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.  And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.  31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Chapter 2 vs 1-3 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Genesis 1:29-2:3 English Standard Version

Mankind's first meals came from plants that yielded seed and fruit bearing trees. And the diet of earth's first animals was of green plants. Death had not yet come into God's creation! It was only after the judgement of the flood that God said to Noah and his sons “the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.” (Genesis 9:2-4)

It’s interesting too that when God provided food for Israel as they travelled out of Egypt it consisted mainly of something called 'manna', which was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. The Israelites had grumbled because they missed the 'meat pots' of Egypt. The word 'vegan' has become an issue in the West recently. I can understand people choosing to be vegetarian because they don't like the slaughter of animals, but it shouldn't be an issue that divides Christians. Eating meat and fish was not forbidden in the New Testament. The key here is surely that it is God who gives to all creation it's daily food.

Which brings us to the seventh day when we’re told that God 'rested' from all the work He had done. We know that God doesn't get tired and didn't personally need a rest, so do you think there may have been a deeper reason for blessing that day and calling it holy?

It may have been His provision for the years that would follow when He knew that men and women would need time to rest after a week of hard work. It may also have been intended to remind us of God, that He created the world in six days, and that we should set aside a day for 'quality time' with Him. The Jews called it the Sabbath day (from a word meaning 'to rest from labour'). Keeping the Sabbath and circumcision were regarded as essential to being Jewish. Do Christians have to keep the Sabbath as the Jews did?

That's a question that’s led to many arguments. Some Christians say it's one of the ten commandments and therefore as necessary to observe as the other nine. Others point out that many of the first gentiles who were saved were labourers and slaves. They couldn't pick and choose which day they wanted to work or not work. It's noteworthy too to recall that the first Church council that took place (in Acts 15) was made up of predominantly Jewish followers of Christ, and they didn't insist that gentile Christians must be circumcised Sabbath keepers.

In the book of Acts we see that the first day of the week became important to the early Church. So the principle of setting a day apart for 'quality time' with God and to celebrate Christ's resurrection was strong. Chapter four of the New Testament book Hebrews has quite a bit about the Sabbath rest, and vs 9-10 say: “There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from His.” God has promised an eternal rest in Christ from the hardships that sin brought into the world. Indeed, Jesus said: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will  give you rest.” Have you found that rest, and do you meet with other Christians to praise Him?