Welcome to the third study in our series, where we continue exploring Biblical characters and their significance in understanding our relationship with Elohiym (God) and His Son, Yahusha Ha’Mashiach (Jesus Christ). In our first study, we examined Elohiym as the first and most foundational character in the Hebrew Scriptures and we explored how Elohiym is The Word of Yahuah.
In this session, we will focus on the seventh day, The Sabbath, as another key entity and character in the Hebrew Scriptures. We will investigate how the Sabbath, which is the seventh day of every week, fits into our understanding of Biblical characters and their roles in our relationship with Yahuah the Father and His Son Yahusha Ha’Mashiach. We will also explore the beautiful truth that the Sabbath is the first character in the Hebrew Scriptures that is specifically tied to the Eternal Covenant between Yahuah and humanity.
Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 2:1-3 (KJV-YS):
1. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2. And on the seventh day Elohiym ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. 3. And Elohiym blessed the seventh day, and sanctifiedit: because that in it He had rested from all His work which Elohiym created and made.These opening verses of the second chapter of Bere’shiyth declare that the heavens and the earth were completed in all their greatness, signifying the goodness of Creation. Then, on the seventh day, Elohiym rested. This raises a profound question: Why does “He that keepeth Yashar’el shall neither slumber nor sleep”(Psalms 121:4) choose to rest? Surely the Creator of all things, Yahuah, does not need rest. So why did He rest on the seventh day from all the work which He made?
The answer becomes clear when we reflect on the nature of the seventh day. Elohiym rested not because He was weary, but because the day itself was sanctified for a specific purpose. Not only did Elohiym rest on the seventh day, He blessed and sanctified it. The rest was not about physical recovery but about setting apart a day in which nothing more was created—a day that Elohiym Himself blessed and sanctified.
The Sabbath, in this sense, becomes more than just a day of rest; it takes on the role of a character in the biblical narrative. It is woven into the story of creation, establishing its presence as a divine appointed feast day. As with all characters in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Sabbath has a purpose and a role to fulfill in Yahuah’s grand narrative of redemption and salvation. By creating the Sabbath, Elohiym demonstrates that this day is central to His relationship with His creation, especially with humanity.
Why did He set this day apart in which nothing was made? The answer becomes apparent when we look back at the final act of creation on the sixth day as recorded in the 27th verse of the first chapter of Bere’shiyth…“So Elohiym created man in his own image..”. This was the crowning moment of Elohiym’s Creation, for humanity alone was made in Elohiym’s image!! How awesome is that!!Elohiym rested on the seventh day not because He needed to, but to establish a time of fellowship with all of Creation—especially with humanity, His image-bearers.
In this way, the Sabbath becomes a recurring character, serving as a divine appointment for fellowship and reflection. Elohiym’s rest on the seventh day was not for Himself, but to set a divine precedent for humanity to follow, a day dedicated to fellowship with Him. This Truth is solidified in the words of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach who declared in the Besorah Marqus (Gospel of Mark) 2:27 And He said to them, The Sabbath for the sake of man came into being, not man for the sake of the Sabbath.
Now that we’ve established the Sabbath as an important character in the biblical narrative, let’s dive a little deeper into what this character can teach us about our relationship and The Covenant that we have entered in with Yahuah and His Son Yahusha Ha’Maschiach.
1. The Sabbath as the First Covenant Sign
The Sabbath is introduced in Genesis 2:2-3 (KJV-YS), where Yahuah sanctified and blessed the seventh day after completing His creation:
“And on the seventh day Elohiym ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And Elohiym blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which Elohiym created and made.”
Here, the Sabbath is established as a day of rest, sanctified and set apart by Yahuah, but its deeper covenantal significance becomes explicit later in the Scriptures.
In Exodus 31:16-17 (KJV-YS), Yahuah specifically states that the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between Him and His people:
“Wherefore the children of Yashar’el shall guard the Sabbath, to keep the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Yashar’el forever: for in six days Yahuah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.”
2. First Character Tied to The Covenant
While the earlier parts of Genesis detail the creation of the world, the Sabbath is the first specific institution introduced that is tied directly to the covenantal relationship between Yahuah and man. It is not just a day of rest, but a symbolic character in the biblical narrative, representing Yahuah’s desire for fellowship, trust, and sanctification for His people.
- Creation’s Completion: The Sabbath celebrates Yahuah’s creation, but it also signals the introduction of a divine pattern of rest that He calls humanity to follow. From the very beginning, Yahuah designed the Sabbath as part of His relationship with humanity—a rhythm of work and rest that not only sustains physical life but also points to deeper spiritual truths about reliance on Him. Exodus 16:29 See, for that Yahuah hath given you the Sabbath, therefore He giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days;
- Covenantal Relationship: The Sabbath becomes more than a creation ordinance; it is specifically linked to Yahuah’s covenant with His chosen people, Yashar’el, in Exodus 31. By commanding the observance of the Sabbath, Yahuah establishes it as a sign of the covenant, a perpetual reminder that He is the One who sanctifies His people. This covenantal sign serves as a bond between Yahuah and His people, setting them apart from other nations.
3. The Sabbath and Salvation
The Sabbath’s connection to salvation is also an essential part of its covenantal role. The Sabbath points forward to the rest Yahuah offers in salvation, which Yahusha Ha’Mashiach fulfills. Yahusha invites all who are weary to come to Him for rest (Matthew 11:28-30 and Hebrews 4:8 For if Yahusha (Jesus) had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day?), symbolizing the deeper spiritual rest that the Sabbath foreshadows—a rest that is fully realized in Yahuah’s eternal salvation.
- Eternal Covenant: The fact that the Sabbath is called a perpetual covenant (Exodus 31:16) emphasizes its ongoing relevance. It not only pointed to the physical rest of Yahuah’s people in the land, but it also points to the eternal rest promised in the new heaven and the new earth.
Conclusion:
In this study, we have examined the Sabbath as a key character in the biblical narrative, one that is intricately tied to Yahuah’s covenant with His people. From its introduction in the creation account, the Sabbath has been set apart as a day of rest, communion, and fellowship—a divine appointment for humanity to reconnect with Yahuah. More than just a day, the Sabbath takes on the role of a covenantal sign—the first character to symbolize the bond between Yahuah and humanity.
As we’ve seen, the Sabbath was sanctified and blessed at creation, but its deeper significance becomes clear as Yahuah uses it to establish a perpetual covenant with His chosen people. Through the Sabbath, Yahuah not only calls His people to rest, but He invites them to trust in His provision, sanctification, and ultimate salvation. This Truth is beautifully echoed in the words of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach, who emphasizes that the Sabbath was made for man, revealing Yahuah’s deep care for humanity’s physical, spiritual, and eternal well-being.
The Sabbath, as a sign of Yahuah’s covenant, also points forward to the eternal rest that awaits all who live a life of faith by following the ultimate example set by Yahusha Ha’Mashiach. In Him, the true fulfillment of the Sabbath is realized, as He offers rest to the weary and brings salvation to those who trust in Yahuah’s plan.
In conclusion, the Sabbath is not just a day of rest—it is a character in the ongoing story of Yahuah’s relationship with His people, a symbol of His covenant, and a promise of the eternal rest to come. I sincerely pray that you continue to explore the depths of this character in the Self Study, and remember the importance of keeping the Sabbath set apart and embracing the spiritual rest and salvation that it points toward through our Lord and Saviour, Yahusha Ha’Mashiach.