Introducing Shabbat

24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Read the Passage then answer the following questions:

1. In verse 26, how is the creation of man described? How does this differ from v24-25?

2. What is the difference in God's feelings in v31 and v25?

3. Are there any limitations placed on mankind in this passage?

4. Can you see any dangers that might emerge from this story?

1. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

2 On the seventh day God finished the work he had been doing; and he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Questions:

5. What was special on the seventh day?

6. Do you think God needed a rest?

7. What lesson do you think we might learn from this story?

8. Read v2 carefully. What is the difference between 'finshing' or 'stopping' work and 'resting'?

9. How do we mark this day in our lives?

10. For reflection: comparing this passage with the last passage, what is Shabbat trying to teach us, to remind us about our place in creation?

8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Questions:

11. What do you understand by the word 'remember' in v8? How do you think we might carry this out in our lives?

12. Are there any differences between this account of Shabbat and the one in the previous passage?

13. This is the 4th of the 10 commandments. Why do you think it deserves to be given such an important role in Judaism?

12 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty handand an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

Questions:

14. What is different about this account of Shabbat? What are the different Hebrew words used to begin the descriptions?

15. Why is the lesson it is teaching us an important one?

16. This is from the second version of the 10 commandments, the version that Moses recounts to the people before he dies. Why do you think he might have changed it? Why does this lesson feel important for him?

13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
14 then you will find your joy in the Lord,
and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Questions:

17. What seems to be involved in not 'breaking the Sabbath'?

18. What, in v14, is a new thing we might gain from Shabbat?

16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

Questions:

19. What new ideas come up in this text?

20. How can Shabbat be a covenant or promise between God and the people?

21. Based on all the sources, what do you think is the Jewish vision of Shabbat?