Expert: Sal - 10/15/2009

Question
Here it is in a nutshell.  If Sabbath is only for the Israelite's then why was it created in the beginning for Adam and Eve, the founders of mankind.  Was Abraham and Israelite? Was Noah an Israelite.  the knew the Sabbath was made for mankind. ALL mankind.  Or does not the 4th commandment mean nothing.  If God never changes, and He set it up in the beginning, and it means nothing to him, why did He set it up as the seventh day? Saturday.  Adam had faith that Sabbath was a time to be with God, Noah knew of Sabbath, and had the faith, Abraham had faith to keep the Sabbath.  Sabbath was a given from the time of the beginning.  that is why it is never talked about, Does one have a long discussion on (1+1=2) no it is a given.  Same as sabbath.

Answer
Dear John:

The Sabbath was not created in the beginning. The Bible says God simply rested on the 7th day. It mentions nothing about creating the Sabbath. The Bible says God gave the Sabbath to the Israelites as recorded in Exodus 16. He made it a sign between Himself and only the Israelites as per Exodus 31:12-13, 16-17 & Ezekiel 20:12, 20. Your assumption that Adam, Noah, and Abraham all knew of and kept the Sabbath is unsupported from Scripture.

I don't require a long discussion of the Sabbath in Genesis just a mention, but the word Sabbath does not appear in the Bible until well into the Book of Exodus. I don't require a long discussion in the New Testament on the necessity of Christians keeping the Sabbath just one verse would do, but neither Jesus nor the apostles ever provided one.

God Bless You,
Sal