The Vikings of Scandinavia achieved world-renown in the 8th
century. They were skilled navigators who didn't think twice about leaving their
homes for faraway destinations, and it was they who discovered Iceland,
Greenland, and even Canada, making landfall in Newfoundland!
Initially Viking voyages were peaceful in nature. They generally traveled from
Spring to Fall, trading for gold, silk, spices, and wine. Unfortunately, peace
is so easily forgotten. The Vikings eventually gained renowned as bloodthirsty
barbarians who had no respect for lives. Why? Because the peaceful trading
missions were not enough! In 793 A.D. they plundered an English monastery, which
provided them with unheard treasures, and motivated them to continue their
plunder all over Europe!
Even though the Vikings were considered barbarians, they were actually quite
sophisticated. Who else in Europe in those times washed themselves at least once
a week? At least they were less smelly than most men in Europe!
God's creative work was also designed with complete peace and rest in mind: "By
the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh
day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it
holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."
(Genesis 2:2-3, NIV2)
Even though man had just been created on the 6th day, and thus had hardly no
time to learn the meaning of the word "work" (Besides, work in paradise is quite
different from the stressful work we know nowadays!), man's first day on Earth
was spent in a day of rest with His Maker.
Interestingly enough, unlike the first 6 days where "God saw all that he had
made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the
sixth day." (Genesis 1:31, NIV2), there is no mention of any evening nor morning
during this day of Sabbath rest. Is it possible that God had planned for us a
restful "repose" (French for "rested", "completely relaxed") from that day
onward? This wouldn't surprise me at all, for God has fore-planned a restful
"repose" for us for eternity, once we reach heaven.
That kind of rest is available even today. Jesus is truly our rest (See Matt
11:28). The only problem is that we often get in the way. We like to be in
control, and as long as we hold on to the reins, rest will be no more than an
unattainable vapor. It is often too late when we realize that we are the most
vulnerable when we are "in charge". But something happens when we declare and
fully endorse that Jesus is our Lord: We find ourselves relieved from our
burdens and our worries!
Speaking of worries, the Viking problem was quite heavy on the minds of
Europeans. Plunder, rape and utter destruction is never fun. Our worries in our
day and age aren't exactly a "cup of tea" either. Why is depression on the rise?
Don't we all hunger for peaceful rest, for the removal of these burdens that
seem like boulders ready to squash us out of existence?
In Eden, worry was non-existent. God took care of all of His creation.
Unfortunately this peaceful and restful time was interrupted when our original
parents decided that their plans seemed much more attractive than God's. Their
ultimate rest was interrupted, and shame, suffering and worry replaced what they
once experienced as idyllic "repose".
"He answered, 'I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked;
so I hid.'" (Genesis 3:10, NIV2)
That day worry was born on planet Earth, and it is to remain as long as man
holds on to control. Did you notice that in Adam's response, he is no longer
referring to God, but he stresses the "I hid", and "I was afraid"? We become
estranged from the One we truly can give restful repose when we insist on our
own agenda.
God though didn't leave Adam and Eve utterly hopeless. He gave humanity a
promise of rest restored when He declared: "And I will put enmity between you
and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and
you will strike his heel." (Genesis 3:15, NIV2)
We will explore that promise in the light of restful "repose", and we will
explore how to claim it even today. God's provisions are out of this world!
Oh no! Vikings ahead!
We have other options than anxiety and worry. Discover God's wonderful promise
of real rest! Even Vikings are no match for God!
Rob Chaffart
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