SHABBAT FEB 2009.pdf - Kanaan Ministries

SHABBAT DEFINES MAN’S PURPOSEMan is the climax of God’s Redemptive work on earth. The entire process ofthe earth, seas, plants and animal life all precede that of man.We are clearly shown that:• the earth rises out of the deep,• the plants and animals come out of the earth,• the fish comes out of the waterBUTMan comes out of the:• Image,• Likeness,of God.Further evidence of the important role of man is defined for us in the veryfirst act of God:• to bless,• to empower mankind to take dominance.Not only is man the last to be created, he is also created just before thebeginning of the Seventh Day / Shabbat.We have already seen that God has declared this Seventh Day to be Holy(sanctified).Man therefore is placed in this unique position and timing that he is about toenter into Holiness / Shabbat at the moment that he is made.Man has the creative ability, nature and Spirit of God (created in His Imageand Likeness) but is made from the material of this world – the earth Manunique amongst all Creation is both physical and spiritual.Man’s purpose to take dominion over the animals, birds, and fish – to takeresponsibility for their well-being.By naming each one of them, it shows us that man has the calling to take allof Creation into the spiritual domain with Him.Man is the bridge / ladder between earth / physical and the spiritual domain.Man chooses at the dawn of each Shabbat which way he will go.18