The Three Angels

The Sabbath in Genesis

by Edwin M. Cotto

It has been argued many times that neither the Sabbath commandment nor Sabbath observance is found anywhere in the Old Testament book of Genesis. That the same Hebrew word “shabbath” as found in the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8) is no where to be found therein and that therefore because of this, the Sabbath is completely absent from the book of Genesis. Since this is true, it has been argued that the first appearance of the Sabbath is in Exodus 16 as a commandment, and in Exodus 20 as part of the moral law. Yet the truth about the Sabbath’s existence in Genesis has been acknowledged by both Sabbath-Keepers and non-Sabath-Keepers alike. So before examining the facts that make this truth clear, we will start with…

The commandment that points us back to creation week.

Exodus 20:8-11
(8) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
(9) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
(10) But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
(11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.


The question, “Is the Sabbath in Genesis?” is fully answered right here in the fourth commandment itself. Notice in Genesis that God blessed the seventh day:

Genesis 2:3
And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Now when we return to the commandment, verse 10 reads:

Exodus 20:10
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God

The fourth commandment says God blessed the seventh day, and then says that the seventh day “is the sabbath” day. The words “is the” makes it ever clear that the seventh day of Genesis 2:3 is the same seventh day of the fourth commandment, which God himself says that that is the “sabbath” day.

If there is any doubt, God repeats it one more time in the Decalogue:

Exodus 20:11
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Again, the “seventh day” was the day he “blessed” which he names as the “sabbath day.” And in case we are not sure of which day this was, God specifies it here by saying that it was the day after he made the “heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is…” which day is the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). The question, therefore, “Is the Sabbath day mentioned anywhere in the book of Genesis?” is fully answered by the Almighty himself, because the Hebrew word “shabbath” translated “sabbath” in Exodus 20:11 is, says YHWH himself, the “seventh day” mentioned in Genesis 2:1-3. If the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 is not connected to the Sabbath day of Exodus 20:8-11, why did Moses make such a connection? The answer is clear, and stands un refuted: because the seventh day of creation week is the sabbath day of the moral Law.

Is there therefore now any need to search for the Sabbath in the book of Genesis? Is not the answer the Almighty gave through, “thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking” (Exodus 20:18) in the fourth commandment not enough? Says the Psalmist, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” -Psalm 119:89. How easy and clear is this fact that even a babe can comprehend it! Yet, those against the “sabbath of the Lord” continue to urge for proof of the Sabbath within the book of Genesis only, so we move on to show that its existence is made evident in Genesis 2:1-3 by Moses’ use of the words…

Blessed and Sanctified.

Says the Patriarch:

Genesis 2:1-3
(1) Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
(2) 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.
(3) And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Take note that after “the heavens and the earth were finished” –verse 1, God still had one more work to get done on the seventh day. The beginning of verse 2 reads, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made…” One may ask, “What other work did God do on the seventh day and does this not violate it as a day of rest?” We answer, no, because the work he did on the seventh day was not secular work, for verse one already tells us that the heavens and the earth were already “finished.” The work he did on the seventh day is answered in verse 3:

“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” –verse 3.

Rather then being a secular work, God performed a spiritual work upon the seventh day… he “blessed” and “sanctified” it.

That he “blessed” it is significant, because the bible teaches that whatever the Lord blesses, it is blessed forever. David, the servant of the Lord, understood very well that when God blesses something it will forever be blessed when he said:

1 Chronicles 17:27.
(27) Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.

Even after the entrance sin, the Sabbath remains blessed:

Exodus 20:11
(11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Once again we find a connection between the seventh day of Genesis and the Sabbath day of Exodus 20:8-11. Moses said clearly that it was the “seventh day” that the Lord “blessed,” because that in it he had “rested.” Will our opponents continue to claim that the sabbath of the commandment is not the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 when the word of God itself shows that the blessing of the seventh day of creation week continued on till the commandment was given?

Now, if the Sabbath was instituted as a temporary institution, as some would have us believe, why then did the Lord bless it? Is it not clear from the above verse in 1 Chronicles 17:27 that what the Lord blesses is blessed forever? How, if the Sabbath has been abolished, is the Sabbath still blessed, seeing it no longer exists, and no one no longer experiences it? Ponder on this for a moment before continuing. The very fact that it was blessed by God himself is sufficient enough to show how perpetual it is. And we know that this is true, and that king David did not lie, because we find the existence of the seventh day Sabbath, still blessed, in the “new heaven and the new earth” –Isaiah 66:23. The prophet Isaiah’s words are therefore proof that indeed what God blesses… “shall be blessed for ever.”

The reason why he blessed the seventh day but did not bless the previous six days was because he had a special purpose for the seventh day, as will now be seen by his use of the word “sanctified.”

The word “sanctified” is used numerous times in the Old Testament, and is a word used in public settings, either of proclamations or dedications. The English word “sanctified” according to Miriam-Webster’s Dictionary means:

1) Sanctified: 1. Made holy; consecrated; set apart for sacred services.

According to Brown Driver Brigg’s Hebrew definitions, the Hebrew word “qadash” translated “sanctified” means:

1) to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate, to be set apart, be consecrated.

Strong’s Hebrew/Greek concordance says “qadash” means:
1) A primitive root; to be (causatively make, pronounce or observe as) clean.

And the Septuagint (LXX), which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, uses the word “hagiazō” which means:

1) to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: - hallow, be holy, sanctify.

In other words, to “sanctify” means to, “pronounce, dedicate, to consecrate, be set apart for holy use.” A better understanding of this word can be found in its usage throughout the Old Testament.

Notice the following verse:

Exodus 13:1-2
(1) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2) Sanctify [qadash] unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

Notice the word here is used in the context of sanctifying, or dedicating “all” the firstborn. It was announced by God that all the children be sanctified unto him, and this demanded “all” the people to be involved, for they had to obey the Lord and bring in their children for dedication. All were to know, that God was the owner of every firstborn, whether of man or beast. Note also this next verse:

2 Kings 10:20
(20) And Jehu said, Proclaim [qadash] a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.

When used here in the context of proclaiming a solemn feast, “all” the Baal worshipers of Israel were to be informed of this event and to attend it. One more verse:

Numbers 20:12
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify [qadash] me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

According to this verse, Moses and Aaron were to sanctify God “in the eyes of the children of Israel.”

So we see that when the word “qadash” is used, it is to publicly announce or proclaim that something is set apart for holy use. All those involved were to be made aware of this announcement. Now when God “sanctified” the seventh day and set it apart as a holy day for holy use, who was he proclaiming this to? To who was he announcing that this day was to be holy and set apart? It must have only been to those alive upon the earth at that moment, Adam and Eve. It was not for those of other worlds, if there were any at that time. Neither was it for the angels of heaven for these did not live on the earth and could therefore not experience the six day cycle of the earth. Only Adam and Eve were alive then, and to them only was it announced that the seventh day was set apart for holy use.

J.N. Andrews in “History of the Sabbath,” in comparing Exodus 19:23 with Exodus 19:12, makes the following analysis:

“But the most striking illustration of the meaning of this word may be found in the record of the sanctification of Mount Sinai. When God was about to speak the ten commandments in the hearing of all Israel, he sent Moses down from the top of Mount Sinai to restrain the people from touching the mount. "And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it." Turning back to the verse where God gave this charge to Moses, we read: "And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount or touch the border of it." Hence to sanctify the mount was to command the people not to touch even the border of it; for God was about to descend in majesty upon it. In other words, to sanctify or set apart to a holy use Mount Sinai, was to tell the people that God would have them treat the mountain as sacred to himself. And thus also to sanctify the rest-day of the Lord was to tell Adam that he should treat the day as holy to the Lord.The declaration, "God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it," is not indeed a commandment for the observance of that day; but it is the record that such a precept was given to Adam.” –History of the Sabbath, ch. 2, p. 7. emphasis ours.

It is no wonder that Jesus later says, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” –Mark 2:27. Many quote this to say that they were not made for the Sabbath, and they are absolutely right, you were not made for the Sabbath, the Sabbath was made for you! This is why God publicly announced to Adam and Eve that the seventh day was holy and set apart for use… for “their” holy use, for they were the only ones alive upon the earth at that time to hear this proclamation. If it was not made for them, and they did not heed this as a command to obey, then God’s sanctifying it was useless. Man was given work to do (Genesis 2:15), yet his work was to be done only for six working days, for upon the seventh day, already blessed and set apart, was for his to use as sacred time with the Lord without secular interruption.

We have seen how God himself says that the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 is the Sabbath day mentioned in Exodus 20:8-11. We have also seen that God’s “sanctifying” of the seventh day was an indication that Adam and Eve were to make use of that holy day. We now want to show you how that between the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 and the fourth commandment of Exodus 20:8-11 there is…

A connection between Hebrews words.

The word “rested” in Genesis 2:2 is the translation of the Hebrew word “shabath” and is often used in the Old Testament within the context of “ceasing” or “resting.” When God “rested” on the seventh day, he “ceased” from all his labor which he had performed in the previous six days. Note the two definitions given for this Hebrew word by Brown Driver Briggs:

1) to cease, desist, rest
2) 2) (Qal) to keep or observe the sabbath

First and formost it means to “cease, desist, rest,” but then we find it can also mean to “keep or observe the sabbath,” because to keep the Sabbath means to cease from your own labor and rest upon the seventh day.

The commandment contains another word:

Exodus 20:11
(11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath [shabbath] day, and hallowed it.

The Hebrew word translated “sabbath” in the fourth commandment is “shabbath” and is, says Strong’s Hebrew/Greek concordance, “intensive of ‘shabath.’ Already we find a connection between Hebrew words. Now that we have learned how closely related Genesis 2:1-3 is to Exodus 20:8-11, when we read in Genesis that God “rested on the seventh day” he was in essence “keeping the Sabbath day.” So while the Hebrew word “shabbath” is not found in Genesis, the Hebrew word “shabath” is, and its close connection and nearly same meaning is but more proof that a “sabbath day” rest is what is intended in Genesis 2:1-3.

But our critics insist that there is no Sabbath in Genesis 2:1-3, despite all the evidence already presented to the contrary. From every corner, this truth is attacked, and when all else fails, they use the “missing evidence” argument, not knowing that with this argument the attack turns right around to them as the ones missing the evidence. Such a “missing evidence” argument is when they say that…

The phrase “evening and morning” is missing from the seventh day.

Our opponents claim that the phrase “evening and morning” is the identifying mark of the ending of the creation of the days in Genesis 1. Each day, after the creation which took place upon that day, these words were spoken…

“… And it was evening and morning, the first day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the second day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the third day.”

Etc.

Upon reaching the seventh day, this phrase is absent. So it is claimed that, because this phrase is absent from the seventh day, a phrase which identifies the ending of the day and beginning of the next day, that the seventh day was meant to continue on forever without ending. A cute thought indeed, but does this really mean that seventh day was to be unending? Let’s examine the facts:

Fact #1: Set apart.

Above we have learned that God “sanctified” the seventh day. We learned that when he “sanctified” it he was in essence “setting it apart” for holy use. If the seventh day was to continue on throughout eternity, how were those alive to hear this proclamation of a “set apart” day to actually set it apart? And does not the very words “set apart” even hint to our opponents that he set it apart from the previous days, just as the first day was set apart from the second day, and second day from the third day, and so forth? The difference, however, with those other days and the seventh day, is that it was set apart for “holy use” as was shown above.

Fact #2: The “yome.”

We ask our opponents: What was the result of the “evening and morning?” Their own verses answers this question:

Genesis 1:5
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

“… And it was evening and morning, the first day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the second day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the third day.”

Etc.

Take note that after every time the phase is used, it results in a “day.” After the evening morning of the second day, we get another “day.” After the evening and morning of the third day, we again get another “day.” The Hebrew word translated “day” is the Hebrew word “yom,” and is “defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1,” says Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew definition. If the combination of the “evening and morning” make up the “yom” or day, take note, that this same word “yom” is also used in reference to the seventh day:

Genesis 2:2-3
(2) And on the seventh day [yom] God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day [yom] from all his work which he had made.
(3) And God blessed the seventh day [yom], and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Therefore, our opponents must remain consistent with their logic. If the six days prior to the seventh have an ending, then so does the seventh day, which also uses the same resulting hebrew word “yom.”


Fact #3: A “week” in heaven.

The most disturbing verse in the bible for our critics is one they have no choice but to acknowledge. They have tried their very best; everywhere from saying it is all symbolic to saying that it is only applicable to the past. Some have gone to the extreme to, after finding no other way to escape this reality, accuse us of claiming or somehow supporting new moon observance. Yet no matter what the claim might be, the following verse is clear even to the eyes of a child, and is piercing through the hearts of the sabbaths most valiant opponents. These verses are found in book of the ancient prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 66:22-23
(22) For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
(23) And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

The argument is brought forth, that Isaiah is simply saying that in the New Earth there will be constant worship, from week to week, and from month to month. Little to they realize, that by such a claim they actually debunk their own reasoning of the seventh day of Genesis 2:2-3. Let me explain.

If the “sabbath to sabbath” reference in Isaiah 23 is merely to show how worship will be “from week to week” one has to admit that a week necessitates the seventh day, for without the seventh day, there could not logically be a “week.” A week consists of “seven” days, and as much as there has to be a first day to begin a week, there must also be a seventh day to end it. If therefore there will be a “week to week” worshiping of God in the New Earth, the seventh day of Genesis 2:2-3 was not a perpetual day, because our opponents claim that this supposed “perpetual day” will be restored when the saints go to heaven and sin if finally destroyed. How will this perpetual rest, or seventh day be restored in the New Earth as they claim, if Isaiah 66:23 clearly says that we will worship from one week to the next? No doubt we will enter into the rest of the true heavenly Canaan, as taught in Hebrews 3 and 4, but the weekly rest, the memorial of God’s creation, will continue from week to week, only this time it will be a memorial of God’s “new” creation of the heavens and earth, for, says the apostle, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth… I make all things new.” Revelation 21:1-5.

This verse is very difficult for anti-Sabbatarians to deal with. If Isaiah is depicting an event not to far from his time, but before the time of Christ, then why does he reference the same “new heaven and new earth” that John the Revelator cites? And if that is symbolic, John’s must also be symbolic, and there will not really be a new heaven or new earth.

The accusation is hurled at us, that if it all literal (and we don’t subscribe to the entire chapter being literal), then there will be carcasses in the new earth according to verse 24. But this does not move us, for the verse says that they “will go forth, and look upon the carcasses…” and we know that this will literally take place, for as New Jerusalem descends from heaven, God destroys the wicked (Revelation 20:9) and those inside the city walls will obviously be able to look outward at the transpiring event. This does not mean that their dead bodies will abide there forever, for the very word “carcasses” implies a “decaying body” that will soon disappear, as Malachi alludes to, “ye shall tread down the wicked, and they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet.” Malachi 4:3.

Both the “it is all literal” and the “it is all symbolic” positions are faulty, which is why we take up the “double application” position of this chapter.



Fact # 4: Missing evidence

In light of the above facts, the claim that seventh day was instituted to be a perpetual day of rest is based upon missing evidence. The reason why the phrase” evening and morning” was not included seems obvious by Moses’ use of the words “blessed” and “sanctified” which set the record strait that this was a day set apart for holy use. By claiming the seventh day is also a “yom” as was the previous days, Moses clearly showed that the seventh day was to also be a literal 24 hour period as was the other six days. The burden of proof lies on the part of our opponents to show that the seventh day was to be a perpetual day of rest. Not one verse in the entire bible even suggests that the seventh day was to be a perpetual day. Missing evidence is not evidence at all. But we ask, did Adam and Eve think they were living in a perpetual seventh day rest? Many would be surprised to learn that Adam and Eve were well aware of the seventh “yom” rest, because by sinning through eating that fruit…

Adam and Eve essentially broke the Sabbath commandment.

That might be hard to swallow, and hard to believe, but, readers, let the word of God be, “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,” piercing, “even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit” –Hebrews 4:12. Let us face the facts and see clearly that when James said that when we break even one of the commandments we have in essence broken them all (James 2:10), he was not lying. Now the Law of God, says the Psalmist, is “perfect” –Psalm 19:7. It is also “holy” and perfectly “just” –Romans 7:12. Paul also says that where ever there is sin, there must also be a law, for “where no law is, there is no transgression” – Romans 4:15. He clearly said that, “by the law is the knowledge of sin” –Romans 3:20. So, when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, how did they know they actually sinned? Paul answer’s that we have knowledge of sin by “the law.” There must have therefore been a law in place when Adam and Eve sinned, for they clearly acknowledged their sin (Genesis 3:2, 3, 7). What law was this? Let us return to Genesis:

Genesis 2:17
(17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The law was not to eat of this tree. But did it stop there? What was the problem with eating a fruit? Is there a particular sin in eating a fruit? Of course not, the problem was within their hearts. To go against God’s wishes was to violate his law and set yourself over his will for your life. It went much deeper then merely eating a fruit, for there is no perticular sin in eating a fruit. There was actually an even bigger law she violated:

Genesis 3:6
(6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

She violated the 10 commandments, because she "lusted" after that which God forbade. For those who that think this is not a violation of the 10 Commandments, beloved, take a closer look:

Genesis 3:6
(6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Now compare her actions with the following commandment:

Exodus 20:17
(17) Thou shalt not covet

Eve took a “look” at the tree, and entertained the thought that God might just be wrong. She felt that it “was pleasant to the eyes,” and “a tree to be desired to make one wise.” Was not God’s counsel not wise enough? Clearly, she violated the 10th commandment not to covet, for she “coveted” that fruit. Yet, this isn’t the only commandment she broke. By placing herself over God’s law, she elevated “self” over God himself, in this way she broke the first commandment, for anything that is first in our lives besides God is our god, especially “self.”

Now, above we read that James teaches that when we break one we have broken them all. Each and every one of the 10 Commandments law are “perfect” and holy.” The fact that the law is “perfect” shows it has always existed together, for why would a perfect law need another law added to it after words, since it is already perfect? (David clearly said the law is perfect in Psalms 19:3, so the law that was “added” in Galatians 3 was not added because this law was not perfect, it was added “because of transgression” –verse 19.) Each of the 10 Commandments have always existed together, and never apart, as James said:

James 2:11
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

In other words, if you break even one of the commandments, you have broken the entire law, and since the law has always existed together, for it is perfect, and God spoke them at the same time, Eve had actually broken the entire law, which included the 4th commandment, the Sabbath! No wonder Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, because as mentioned above, Jesus was well aware that Adam and Eve were Sabbath keepers. To hard to swallow? Believe ye his words, and recognize that Adam was not the only patriarch aware of the Sabbath, for…

Abraham also kept the Sabbath.

Below is an extract from another study found at this website:

Genesis 26:5(5) Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Note: Many would be surprised to learn that faithful Abraham was also a Sabbath keeper. The above verse states that he obeyed God and kept his commandments. Now lets read some more about the commandments that Abraham kept:

1 Chronicles 16:15-17(15) Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;(16) Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;(17) And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant.

Some believe the covenant God made with Abraham was circumcision, but a closer look reveals this was not the covenant, but the “sign” of that covenant:

Genesis 17:7-11(7) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.(8) And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.(9) And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.(10) This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.(11) And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

Notice above that circumcision was to be a token (or sign) “of the covenant.” In 1 Chronicles 16, verse 17, we read that the same covenant God made with Abraham was “the same” he made with “Israel for an everlasting covenant. What was the covenant he made with Israel?

Deuteronomy 4:13(13) And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Therefore, since the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was the Ten Commandments, which included the Sabbath, this means they were all Sabbath keepers. –Who Kept the Sabbath?

When a covenant is made, there are two parties involved, and both parties agree to do something in order to sustain that pact, or contract, or covenant. If one violates his end of the deal, the contract is broken and becomes void. God’s end of his contract was that he was going to “bless” Abraham with the land and with multiplying his seed (Genesis 15:5, 17:8, 16, 20). And because Abraham believed in God, that God would keep his promise, his belief was “counted unto him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). But why does then God say in Genesis 26:5 that Abraham “obeyed” his laws and commandments? Read closely the verses before, it reads that God will multiply Isaac’s seeds “because” that Abraham obeyed him. Abraham’s end of the contract was that he was to faithfully obey God’s laws as a result of his belief in God, and in return God would bless him and his seed. It was because Abraham believed first, then obeyed his laws, that God kept his promises. If Abraham would have just “believed” but broken God’s law, his faith which would have been without works... which is a“dead” faith –James 2:26. His belief was counted unto him for righteousness, but his belief produced “obedience” to God’s law, and those laws, according to 1 Chronicles 15:16-17 was the same law, or covenant, that God made with Israel, which covenant was the 10 Commandments (Deut. 4:33)! And the truth that God’s covenant was not a new thing to him is made crystal clear by the wording of Deuteronomy 4:13. Take a look:

Deuteronomy 4:13
And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Take note, dear reader, that Moses said God “declared” his covenant. The word “declared” implies it was not given "for the first time,” but rather, as it has already existed, it was “declared” to them for their benefit. This is made more evident by the Hebrew word “nagad,” which in the majority of times throughtout the Old Testament is used in the context of declaring or making known something that already existed. Then notice that it reads, “his covenant.” God made known “his” covenant to them. It is not "their" covenant, as our opponants would have us believe. No, it was “his” covenant, because this covenant of his was his before he declard it to the children of Israel, it was first a covenant between him and Abraham! But I can hear the critics already, "God said the covenant was not made with their fathers!" Let's all read that verse together:

Deut. 5:3
The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

Some think that when this verse says "our fathers" it is speaking about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yet, knowing that this will not contradict 1 Chronicles 16:15-17, for God's word does not contradict itself, we must realized that Moses was not here talking about Abraham, but about the fathers of those Israelites that were slaves in Egypt! Remember, they were in Egyptian bondage for 400 years (Genesis 15:13). That means that if a bible generation in those days was 100 years long, that's at least four generations of "fathers" that did not experience this covenant! That is why Moses said that the Lord did not make this covenant of 10 Commandments with "our fathers," because the Israelites there present were the children of those Israelites that died while slaves in Egypt.

God’s word the final Authority

The idea therefore, that the Sabbath is no where to be found in the book of Genesis is without bases, and is an idea that was foreign to patriarchs like Moses and David. God’s word is quick and powerful, and “sharper then any two edged sword” –Hebrews 4:12. It is perfect and a chastiser to the proud and haughty. May it now forever be settled that God's law truly is "sure, they stand fast for ever and ever..." -Psalms 111:7-8

We pray this study was helpful.

You're Thought Questions Answered

Since adding this study to the website and discussing these issues with others I have been presented with some questions. Below are two questions, if you have any others, please email me and send them to me to add them here. Thank you.

Question: If Adam was given the Sabbath as a literal 24 period to rest on, what did they have to rest from since they were created just before on day six?

Answer: Genesis 1 is the account of the creations of God, but Genesis 2 is another account of some events that took place during creation week, specifically on the sixth day. Notice that Genesis 1:27 says that both Adam and Eve were created on day six. Yet there are things that took place between the time Adam was created and the time Eve was created, according to the second account in Genesis 2. Take a look:

Genesis 2:15-18
(15) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
(16) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
(17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
(18) And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.


Take note that “before” the women was created God told Adam to “dress it and to keep it.” The words “dress and keep” in the Hebrew means to both work and guard the Garden of Eden. As soon as Adam was created on day six, just before the women, who was also created on day six, he was given work to do. It was on the day “after” day six, which was the seventh day, that he was to rest the Sabbath day. Eve who was to follow after her husbands example also participated in his labor. Therefore what they rested from on the seventh day was the work they for given to do on day six.

Question: If the “day” of the seventh day was really supposed to simply be a 24 hour period, why then is the phrase “evening and morning” missing from there?

Answer: The reason why this phrase is absent is because another similar phrase was placed there, which is “blessed and sanctified it.”

The phrase” evening and morning” indicate that the day is set apart and separate from the day before it and from the day after it. The result of the phrase “evening and morning” is the “day.” Take another look:

Genesis 1:5
(5) And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

And it goes on from there with the following days, the evening and the morning phrase “results” in the day. Now what is the resulting phrase for the seventh day? Again, the phrase “the Lord blessed and sanctified the seventh day.” The word “sanctified” also indicates, as does the “evening and morning” phrase, that the day is “set apart” day, or yom. Therefore, if Moses would have said the phrase “evening and morning” for the seventh day, he would have been repeating himself, for he already indicated that it is set apart by his use of the word “sanctified.”