The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation

The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us about Sabbath Living
“In today’s fast-paced society, rest is often viewed as a weakness or hindrance to progress. Yet God designed rest as a gift that enables us to flourish and live abundantly. In the beginning, God spoke into place the skies and seas, birds and trees, fish and insects-and rest. In the garden of Eden, before sin entered the scene, rest was an integral part of God’s plan. As he carefully sculpted and earth to make it habitable for his children, he included the gift of rest so that we can thrive in his design. Throughout nature, we observe rhythms of circadian (daily) and circannual (seasonal or yearly) rest that invite us into regular intervals of stopping and delighting in all God is doing. As we step back into creation, where God first introduced Biblical rest and where it still thrives today, we discover that rest infuses our creative energies, energizes our bodies and minds, and grants clarity in an often confusing and chaotic world. Through this 6-week study, readers will redeem misconceptions around rest to view it as the incredible gift and benefit God created it as; gain a wholesome view of Biblical rest while following its narrative throughout Scripture; practice proper methods of hermeneutical Bible study to discover depth in the original language and apply it to their lives; identify God’s fingerprints in nature and connect his creation (natural revelation, Romans 1:20) to his inspired word (special revelation, the Scriptures); develop a deeper understanding of Sabbath and the many ways it can be practiced and enjoyed; gain a new wonderment at God’s creativity and intelligence employed throughout his designs; and connect the theme of Biblical rest throughout Scripture by highlighting subthemes of abiding, dwelling, remaining, and waiting”–