1) The Origin of the Sabbath

The creation of the Sabbath in Eden - Why God rested and sanctified the seventh day

Where did the Sabbath come from? Many think it was a Jewish invention, given only to Israel. But the Bible reveals that the Sabbath is much older — it was established in the week of creation, before there were even Jews, before sin, and before any written law.

The Sabbath in Creation

When was the Sabbath instituted?

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The Sabbath did not begin with Moses or with Israel — it began at creation. This means that the Sabbath is a universal institution, created for all humanity, not just for the Jews.

What did God do on the seventh day of creation?

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God did not rest because He was tired: He is omnipotent! God’s rest was a purposeful act of ceasing His creative work and establishing a pattern for humanity.

“The Sabbath was given to all humanity to commemorate the work of creation. By sanctifying the seventh day, God set it apart as a memorial of His creative work.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 283

The Three Actions of God

What three things did God do on the seventh day?

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God did three specific things:

  1. Rested: He ceased His creative work
  2. Blessed: He declared this day special
  3. Sanctified: He set it apart for a sacred purpose

What does it mean to 'sanctify' a day?

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“To sanctify” means “to set apart for sacred use.” God set apart the seventh day from the other six, giving it a special purpose — communion with Him.

The Sabbath Before Sinai

Did Israel know about the Sabbath before receiving the Ten Commandments at Sinai?

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The incident of the manna (Exodus 16) occurred BEFORE the giving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). God already expected Israel to keep the Sabbath — the formal commandment came later.

What happened to the manna on the Sabbath?

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For 40 years, God performed a weekly miracle: double manna on Friday (which did not spoil) and no manna on the Sabbath. This taught Israel about the holiness of the day.

The Sabbath is Universal

For whom was the Sabbath made, according to Jesus?

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Jesus said: “The Sabbath was made for man,” not “for the Jew.” The Sabbath was created in the week of creation when there were only Adam and Eve — no Jew existed. It is a gift for all humanity.

Were Adam and Eve Jewish?

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Abraham, the ancestor of the Jews, lived about 2,000 years after creation. The Sabbath existed millennia before any Jewish people existed!

“The Sabbath was not given only to Israel, but to the world. It had been instituted in Eden, and, like the other precepts of the Decalogue, it is of permanent obligation.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 283

And Now?

The origin of the Sabbath has important implications:

  • It is not a Jewish invention: It was created for all humanity
  • It precedes sin: It is not a restriction, but an original blessing
  • It is a memorial of creation: It reminds us that God is our Creator
  • It is part of the created order: Just like marriage (also from Eden)

If God created the Sabbath at the beginning to bless humanity, why would we abandon it?

I recognize that the Sabbath was instituted by God at creation, before the existence of Jews or any written law. It is a divine gift to all humanity, and I desire to understand better its purpose and relevance for my life.

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2) The Sabbath in God's Law