Heavenly Sleep

Relational needs are not a by – product of the fall. Likewise, the need for rest, or Sabbath, is not an aftertaste of human sinfulness, unlike our chronic inability to receive rest. In fact, as we shall see, Sabbath is a foretaste of heaven. All of this means that humans’ need for rest and sleep was not a result of sin or disobedience. Sleep does not come after, but before, the fall. In fact, we see that the first act of “deep sleep” (Hebrew tardemah) is initiated by God, resulting in the creation of the woman . Sleep is a result of God’s activity, intended to take place in paradise before…