With the completion of creation, God rested on the seventh day. He blessed and sanctified it. To sanctify means to set something apart as holy, which is exactly what God did—He set the seventh day apart as precious to Himself.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all their multitude. On the sixth day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done.
So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation (Genesis 2:1-3).
The Hebrews were the nation that introduced the concept of a seven-day workweek to humanity. Before establishing the Sabbath—a day of rest reflecting God’s rest—people worked continuously without a designated day of rest.
Through the observance of the Sabbath, God’s people not only rested but also shared with the world a workweek modeled after God’s calendar.
Pivotal Bible Passages
The Bible has many references to the Sabbath. Below are two key passages.
(1) The Fourth Commandment: The seventh day, or the Sabbath, is so important in God’s worldview that He established it as the fourth of the Ten Commandments.
“Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work.
But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it” (Exodus 20:8-11).
The commandment to observe the Sabbath and rest on that day is rooted in the understanding that it follows the pattern God established during creation.
Let’s not overlook whom God commands to rest on the Sabbath day. Children, servants, immigrants, and even livestock are all to be granted a day of rest. God’s care extends to the most vulnerable in society.
A day of rest serves as a reminder of the first commandment: to worship God alone. True worship includes trusting Him to provide for our needs, even when we are not working.
It also reflects the commandment not to covet (the 10th commandment). Instead of striving for more, we learn to be content with what God has given us.
(2) The Lord of the Sabbath: Jesus had no hesitation about doing good on the Sabbath because He understood that such work aligned with God’s order and purpose.
However, the religious authorities disagreed with Him. In response, Jesus offered a profound explanation of the Sabbath’s role in human life.
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath, so the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28).
While Jesus rejects the legalistic rules imposed by the religious authorities, He affirms that the Sabbath is God’s gift to humanity. It is a day to reconnect with God, worship Him, and deepen our relationship with Him.
Additionally, it provides an opportunity for fellowship with others who are also following God.
A Current Application
I recall a time when a man in my church was so skilled that he and one other person were the only ones capable of completing a critical task for an important job. Their business required both of them to work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, for what I believe was six to eight weeks.
This grueling schedule nearly destroyed his health, marriage, and family. It also caused significant harm to his relationship with God.
From his experience, I learned the vital importance of taking time off to reset, reconnect with family, and refresh one’s faith.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 