A "STRONG" FALLACY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 3, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 35.

A "STRONG" FALLACY.

ONE seemingly "strong argument" to the uninstructed against the perpetuity of the Sabbath of the Lord is the constantly reiterated statement that the Sabbath is not mentioned or referred to in Holy Writ for a period of over twenty-five centuries, from Genesis 2 to Exodus 16. If this claim be granted—which it is not—what does it prove? In 1789 the Constitution of the United States was adopted. Suppose that in a short official history of this country no mention should be made of that great document for a period of fifty years; would that prove that it was not in force during that time? No one would claim it for a moment.

Well, the book of Genesis is simply an inspired record of the origin of the earth and mankind, with a short history of one family, and God’s providential dealings with them. The whole book consists of only fifty chapters. The first eight chapters treat of the creation, the Sabbath, Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, the antediluvians, and the Deluge; chapters 9 to 11:9 treat of Noah and his descendants and the peopling of the earth. The remainder of the book has to do almost wholly with Abraham and the three generations following him.

During all this period we have no record of any law given, simply incidental reference to some of the great principles of the Ten Commandments. But because we do not read until we come to Exodus 20, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me,” does this prove that the command was not in force during the time it is not mentioned? And so in regard to other great moral principles. Their non-mention does not prove them to have no existence. This fallacy is put forth concerning the Sabbath alone. Satan knows if men forget God as Creator, they will never know him as God the Redeemer, the Regenerator, the Sanctifier; for the power that creates is the power that sanctifies. The Sabbath is the memorial of God’s power (Ex. 20:8-11), the sign between him and his people of his power to redeem and sanctify (Deut. 5:15; Eze. 20:12). To forget the Sabbath or to turn from it is to turn from all that God essentially is to his people.

But God lives. He instituted the Sabbath of this earth in the beginning. See Gen. 2:1, 2. It was made for man (Mark 2:27) when man was made; and as long as the earth and God’s people remain, so long will it remain (Isa. 66:22, 23). Why should God’s people wish to abolish an institution so blessed? And why should they with it desire to abolish all law, and make the God of the universe such an one as themselves? Rather, is it not better to say, “Let God be true, and every man a liar”? With a true and living God there is hope even for the liars; but with God and his word fallible and false, there is hope for none, save the hope which perishes.