So what does that mean God rested on the seventh day?

“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day, from all his work which he had made.” (Genesis 2:2-3)

On the farm there was always plenty to do. There was no choice about what to do. Animals had to be fed, crops had to be planted and cared for, or there would be no milk to drink, no meat in the smokehouse, no vegetables or fruit to store for the winter. Wood had to be chopped and piled in a dry place or there would no fire for heating or cooking. Nothing was wasted. Anything we didn’t eat was given to the animals.

I went to school and there I learned a new word. Recreation. Recreation was an activity people engaged in for no other purpose than to have fun. A new concept to me. It wasn’t like we worked all the time on the farm. We went swimming at the old swimming hole, visited family and friends. Some went to Church on Sunday. We didn’t but Sunday was still a special day. Animals had to be fed; and sometimes if hay was on the ground and a storm was coming we made hay, but otherwise it was a light work day.

Somehow I never got the hang of Recreation. For my husband and I, holidays and vacation time were times when we deep cleaned, painted, fixed the roof or other needful projects. Seldom did we ever go anywhere and heaven forbid that we would spend money on ourselves for no other reason than to have fun. In fact the few times we actually did that I felt guilty.

In our church we have three hours of services on Sunday and beyond that are meetings of the different departments and visiting the sick and needy etc, and etc. It is a full day of spiritual and emotional activity. There is nothing fun for fun’s sake on Sunday. Some have to work at a job on Sunday and that is accepted but Sunday is not a time for sleeping in or goofing off.  We take a few hours on Monday night for Family Home Evening together with our families, but depending on the age and temperament of the children that is not rest either.

So what does that mean, “God rested on the seventh day?”