"Q: What is the nature of the book of Genesis?
A: It is plainly, from beginning to end, a book of history.
It sets forth a narrative, in chronological order, of events from the creation through the death of Joseph. Therefore, in the absence of
clear evidence to the contrary, we should consider the various parts of it, the accounts of what men said and did, and likewise the accounts of what God said and did, as being historical incidents occurring at the time indicated in the narrative.
The account of God's resting on the seventh day of creation week and blessing and sanctifying it fits as naturally into the historical sequence as do any other incidents mentioned in Genesis. There is nothing in the context to suggest otherwise.
Note the four verbs, all in the past tense: “made,” “rested,” “blessed,” and “hallowed.”
The rationale, the basis, for the Fourth Commandment in Exodus 20:8-11 is what happened during the creation week. This is why the history of the creation week is being recited in Exodus 20."
F.D. Nichol/F7
