Finished

Genesis 2. Chapters one and two both deal with the creation story. Chapter one tells the story with a wide angle lens. Chapter two zooms in for a closer view. Chapter two is a zoom lens dealing specifically with the creation of man. Chapter one is a chronological overview of creation, whereas chapter two is a topical overview. Think of it like placing a specimen under a microscope (ch.1), then by clicking from the weaker lens to a more powerful lens (ch.2), you are able to view certain parts up close under greater magnification. That's what chapter two is all about. It is up close and personal, giving us a little more understanding of the creation of man.
The subject of 2:1-3 is God resting. Note what is different about this day (2:1), when compared to the other six days (ch.1). There is no refrain: "and the evening and the morning..." This is theologically significant because the seventh day had no end, and therefore is viewed as eternal. Whereas the human work week recurs after each Sabbath, the Sabbath rest of God is eternal since creation's work is finished. God didn't rest because He was tired. God rested because creation was complete! He didn't rest because He was weary, but because He was satisfied with the completion of a job well done and completed.
There is a lesson here for us. Few things are as sweet as accomplishment. Proverbs 13:19a says, "The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul..." The Hebrew word for "accomplished" is a verb that means "to come to pass; to be done; to happen; to finish". It is akin to our word "thorough." Webster defines "thorough" as "carried through to completion...complete in all respects." What about us? Often we start a task but never finish it. We start a book and quit. We start a new project and quit. We start college and drop out. We start a job and then quit it. We make 'New Year's' resolutions, but give up by February. We start out with good intentions, and then we fail to see it through; we fail to carry it to completion. But Proverbs 13:19 says that if we complete it, be faithful to the end, finish the project, finish the book, complete the course etc., then it is sweet to the soul. Why not dig in and refuse to give up until the task is done? Why not tighten your belt a notch and wade into that unpleasant job with renewed determination, so that you can write "It is finished" over it? And when you accomplish a task thoroughly, satisfaction follows.
Prayer:
"Dear Heavenly Father, give me the wisdom to see what I ought to do, courage to begin it, loyalty to continue it, and strength to complete it. And Father, as I face the task of this day, grant me the faith and fortitude to develop my plans prayerfully and to make my decisions wisely for Your glory and for the good of others; In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."
One More Thought:
There was another time when God declared something that was finished. It's found in John 19:30 when, from the cross, Jesus cried, "It is finished." Creation was finished in Gen.2:1. Redemption was finished in John 19:30. God has only one other project to complete: YOU! Romans 8:29 says that He has predestined you to be conformed to the image of His Son... and Philp.1:6 says, "...He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Amen!