S - Exodus 16: 22-30 (NASB)
22 Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 then he said to them, “This is what the LORD meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.” 24 So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the sabbath, there will be none.”
27 It came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions? 29 See, the LORD has given you the sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
O - The Lords teaching of His people, His ways is always done with such patience and grace. From the begin his instructions to Adam and Eve for life in the garden, his resetting the table with Noah and the Ark, his leading Abraham and Sarah, his salvation of Jacob and his sons through Joseph and Egypt, and his deliverance of the nation of Israel through Moses; God had always provided his guidance on how to live. Each time there is a wandering away from God's ways but He is patient at pursuing His people and this time of restoration of God's people is done with a deliverance that they had no choice but to recognize it as God (I believe it wasn't until the Red Sea that many really believed), but just days later in the search for food and water we see them grumbled or not understanding there relationship with God and how sufficient His provision is. Now when he delivers food, water, he gives them a command not to gather twice as much of the manna on the sixth day, for the Lord will rest on the seventh. He taught them dependence on him in that they were to daily wake up trusting in His provision, and gather no more than was needed for the day. As we see, some did fully trust and the manna turned to worms; all except on the seventh day, since they gathered twice as much from the day before. The grace and patience God shows us in teaching us His ways for us, is refreshing.
A - The application for me is to understand that God has a great plan for us on how to live our life. If we are obedient to it we can live in his provision in peace, with comfort in the knowledge that he is ever faithful to deliver on His promises. The second application for me is an affirmation of the Sabbath as not just something He is testing us with but it is what He does, and what He has designed for us to do. I am not sure why so many people then and today struggle with God giving you a day off. I suppose the curse of toiling over the land is a hard one to break and we tend to be people who rely on ourselves for provision.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's words of wisdom and truth. I pray Lord that you would reveal more to me on the Sabbath, your infinitely wise plan for us as well as a best practice we can follow in your example. I pray all this in Jesus name.
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