Monday: Sabbath Before Sinai
“And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning” (Exodus 16:23). Skim through Exodus 16, the story of the manna provided to Israel, in the desert, before Sinai. Notice what this account reveals:
1. Only a regular portion of manna could be used each day, but on the sixth day a double portion was to be gathered.
2. No manna was given on the Sabbath.
3. The extra portion needed for the Sabbath was preserved from the sixth day unspoiled, while the manna would not keep on any other day.
What does this story reveal about the sanctity of the Sabbath before the giving of the law at Sinai? (See Exodus 16:23-28.)
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“In fact, the equation of the Sabbath with the seventh day, the statement that the Lord gave the Israelites the Sabbath, and the record that the people, at God’s command, rested on the seventh day, all point unmistakably to the primeval [at Creation] institution of the Sabbath.” — G. F. Waterman, The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, vol. 5, p. 184.
There is a lot more than first meets the eye in Exodus 16 about the Sabbath. Look what it teaches us:
1. Which day is the preparation day for the Sabbath?
2. Which day of the week is the Sabbath?
3. Where did the Sabbath come from?
4. What kind of day should the Sabbath be?
5. Is the Sabbath a day of fasting?
6. Is the Sabbath a test of loyalty to God?
| How does your understanding of the Sabbath today match with what is taught about the Sabbath in Exodus 16:1-36? |
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One of the problems we sometimes have with putting the case for worshiping on the seventh day is that we have simply taken church attendance from Sunday and transferred it to Saturday. Other Christians often think that it is just the same activity on a different day, and to them the difference appears as a spiritual legality. If that is all there is to Sabbath-keeping then they are right. Somewhere in our communication of the value of the Sabbath to others we understand that Sabbath-keeping is more than just fronting up to Church (and Sabbath School) on a different day. What is there about our Sabbath-keeping that others will say, "Hey, I want to have some of that too!"?
There is a parable in the Gospels that is pertinent to this discussion:
The point is, have we left the Sabbath empty? How do we creatively rest on Sabbath?
You make a good point Maurice. Sunday, Saturday, whateverday, without the felt presence of the Lord, the day won't matter and the Rest will not benefit.
If we do not live "by every word" God has given us, the ones we do agree to will lack the intended blessings. One cannot be a part-time servant and expect full-time benefits. If we are not "resting"(Matt 11:28) all week, the Sabbath will more likely leave one restless.
In the early days of American history, there may have been little difference between the Sunday Sabbath and the seventh-day Sabbath because the Pilgrims kept the whole Sunday as "Sabbath," albeit somewhat legalistically. (I have no idea how things were in Australia.)
Nowadays it is unusual to find Christians "keeping" the whole Sunday. It may be a day to go to church, but it is also a time to go shopping immediately after church. While most people don't go to work for others, but spend time puttering around the house and yars, those who work at big chain stores, do go to work. So one of the differences is between keeping a *day* to spend with the Lord and spending an hour or so with the Lord. And I think that's a major difference.
Since we keep Sabbath partly as a memorial of creation, Adventist tradition includes spending time out in nature on Sabbath and enjoying God's creation. And, of course, there is also a tradition of visiting the senior residences and singing, of visiting the sick and isolated, etc. For those who have dropped these traditions and see Sabbath only as a day to go to church, maybe there's not a great deal of difference between Sunday and Sabbath.
i agree with you sir, mostly we think that the only way of keeping the sabbath is by going to church on saturday, forgotten doing the needful by not finding our pleasure on the sabbath day, the question is how do we leave our live, are we really mortivating people to GOD?.
I would have to add that if my life does not look any different to those observing me, then what good is my Sabbath Keeping? If the only difference is that I go on the 7th day instead of the 1st day, then there is no point. (which I think is what everyone else is saying) I think that the story of the manna and how things were different on Friday & Sabbath goes deeper than just showing the sanctity of the Sabbath. It shows us that God will care for us. Everything about manna was a miracle, and yes, Sabbath was treated differently. Along with showing the sanctity of the Sabbath, it shows me that by obeying Gods commands, we will be taken care of, we will have everything we need. There were those who tested the “rules” and they went hungry that Sabbath. I think it showed them and us, that Gods laws have a purpose and we are safe (and full) if we abide by them.
Manna. I would have Loved to eat that “manna”. It is described as if it tasted like waffles with the syrup already added, a sweet bread. Yummy!!
But instead, many of the children of Israel, desired to have the “fleshpots” that they had in Egypt. But, like I always say to my sabbath school class, before we judge them, we need to look at ourselves. Nowadays, we, or some of God’s people, are struggling with the same concept sins of the past generations. Our issue is not food, but our desires, and our lack of gratitude to God for all the His blessings that He has given us. Like them, we are discontented with God’s way of living, and desire to have all the pleasurable things that others, the other surrounding nations, have (many have left the church because of this); instead, we should being content with that which God has provided for us, or them, because God knows best what we need. But “Sin” will always have us in a state of discontentment, always wanting more, insatiable.
They were not content with the “manna”. But God, who created us, and them, knew that the sweet bread would provide them with the nutrients and energy (the sugar) that they need for their daily journey. They were a nation on the move, walking to the promised land, and they needed sufficient energy to continue on that journey, and God provided that for them, “My grace is sufficient for you”. But no, they wanted more; they wanted all of God’s blessings, and the fleshpots too. Are we guilty of the same concept sins? Do we want God’s blessings and protection, but still desire to live the lifestyle that we decide? Are our just keeping the sabbath on Saturday, instead of desiring to develop a covenant relationship with Him where we commune with Him every day? I hope I’m thriving to be in covenant relationship with Him, where I’m content with whatever He provides for me, instead of seeking my own desires.
God’s blessings to you all.
Though we do praise God every day, we pray everytime in any days, but a special day of observance on His sabbath day is more delightful in our soul. Holiness to God, and caring for the needy are merely just to do, not for ourselves but to the Lord.
Manna was bread from heaven to nourish the people and to let them know that the LORD was their Sovereign. How they gathered this gift was a physical manifestation of whether in their hearts and minds they acknowledged the LORD as their Deliverer and Provider.
Jesus is the Bread of Life from heaven to nourish our souls. As the Israelites had to gather the manna daily early in the morning, so Jesus taught us in the Lord's prayer to ask the Father to give us each day our daily bread early in the morning.
But wait, there is more to learn from the manna experience. It taught them to prepare for the Sabbath because it was a special day of rest when they were to be in 'lockdown' in their tents to spend the day remembering all the LORD had done for them.
When they were enslaved in Egypt it appears they had to work seven days a week but when Moses and Aaron reminded them of the will of the LORD and they remembered what they had heard from their forefathers about how the LORD had instituted a special day for communion with Him, they again started to rest on the seventh day, much to Pharaoh's anger.
Now once again they were reminded by the manna experience to stop working and trust the LORD to provide for them physically and spiritually.
Truly. We Christians nowadays must continue as what Moses and Aaron did. Share Gods word, reminding people for His near coming again. Though people are so hardheaded, let's just continue sowing, sharing Gods love to everyone.
Is that Sabbath a day of fasting? Exodus 16:25 seems to suggest that it isn't. Unfortunately, the lesson leaves the questions unanswered. What would be you.
The Sabbath is not a fast-day by commandment, but we may fast on any day, including Sabbath, when we desire the benefits of fasting. It remains our option to exercise.
Domingos, the Lord provided food for the Sabbath day so it is not usually a day of fasting. The Israelites were to collect enough food for Friday and Sabbath, and that was the only time that the food did not spoil.
From time to time however, people may choose to fast on a Sabbath but it was not designed specifically for fasting. It primary intent is for worship.
Isa 58:13 suggests that we call the Sabbath "a delight." Thus, if fasting helps you regard the Sabbath "a delight," it is appropriate. I have a strong suspicion, however, that it is hardly likely that children will consider the Sabbath a "delight" if they are forced to go without food!
History has a lesson for us here. In early Christianity, certain ecclesiastics encouraged the Sabbath as a day of fasting, and that was followed by Sunday as a day of feasting. We know what happened. Sabbath became a drudgery and fell out of favor, while people delighted in Sunday.
We may be able to learn a bit from Jewish tradition as well. For them, Sabbath is the high day of the week. It is planned as a special day, beginning with a special meal on Friday evening. And the Sabbath meal is more of a feast than a fast. This tradition fostered Sabbath keeping. As for me, I think Sunday is a more appropriate day for fasting!
Domingos, in the bible we read about the seventh day sabbath also we read about some holy days which are referred to as sabbaths. E.g Exod 23:9-19. Lev 23:1-44. The 7th sabbath remains forever, the holy days sabbaths had been nailed to the cross. When Jesus was asked the question if he doesn't fast. The answer was Matt 9:15. The Israelites had time to do fasting, and so are we. Fasting must have a reason and can be individual/small groups or as a congregation.
When our Sabbath is not a show of our love for God and love for our fellow man thereby putting smiles on faces and relieving each others burdens, then forget it. We are just being churcheous, ceremonial legalist.
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. Psalms 17:5
How does your understanding of the Sabbath today match with what is taught about the Sabbath in Exodus 16:1-36?
The manna is one of the example used to demonstrate who the Lord is to his people. It shows us how he is our Provider, Protector, Sustainer, Educator, Comforter, etc, etc. Exod 16:1-36.
With the manna experience, the Lord used it for a reason and a purpose. Many saw the sabbath that time as a DO & DON'T and try to turn away from Jesus because they say the rules were too much and too strict. Also, many see the Sabbath in that same light today. Some went out to gather manna and there were none on the Sabbath. At another time we saw a man was stoned to death trying to gather sticks to go to cook on the sabbath. Some today might say the Lord was too hard, or the man probably was too busy on Friday to get the sticks, or his employer probably paid him late or even sickness. Many today go light on sins and excuse sins in our own lives. But its showing us the Lord is very specific in everything he asked us to do.
In collecting the manna; the Lord was specific with the time of the day-go out EARLY in the morning because when the sun got hot the manna melted. With the amount- collect an omer per person in the household. Storage- collect only for one day in the week, don't leave for no other day in the week, some did, it spoiled and stunk. Collect a double portion on the sixth day/the day before the sabbath. On the sabbath- don't go out to collect because none will be there. There are many others that I can write how the Lord is specific with dealing with his people then and with us now. Specificity is for a reason- to clear up doubts.
Is the Lord more specific with the Sabbath now than we thought?
Rev 15:3-4. Great and marvelous are thy works, Just and true are thy ways. Who shall not fear thee. Today I asked the same question. Who shall not fear thee?
As for the Sabbath existing before God gave the law at Sinai, there are a number of passages that describe God as unchanging, the same always, no varying or hint of change. If understanding this, and knowing what God told Isaac concerning his father Abraham, whom God declared: "...obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws"(Gen 26:5). This would mean that the Sabbath commandment was nothing new in Moses' day, which the word "Remember" implies, and the giving of the manna confirmed.
It is also interesting to note that God did not place the manna in their mouths, stomachs, or even on their table. He placed it where it could be found and gathered, leaving them to decide for themselves and then act. God never leaves us without choices to make and actions to take, "through faith" in His grace(Eph 2:8).
Robert - my comments are in response to your reference of Gen.26:5KJV as supporting God's Day of Rest. I think this particular sabbath-day-rest experience is specific to the circumstances in which the children of Israel found themselves as they wandered the Wilderness of Sin; they were totally depended on the LORD for their physical and spiritual sustanance.
The LORD already provided water for them, Exodus 15:24-26KJV and Moses admonished them to trust the LORD- (25)...: 'there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them. (26) '... If thou wilt diligently harken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to do that which is right in his sight, to give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statues.'
Exodus 15:26KJV speaks to God building His relationship with the children of Israel, re-enforcing trust. The promise given to their forefathers was based on their faith and trust to follow the Word of God wherever it may lead them.
The children of Israel's experience is our example to use as a gage to understand our relationship-dependency with the LORD - He will provide! Because we understand this, we observe the Lord's and our Day of Rest, remembering that His Will reigns supreme in the life of the believer and sowith honore Him.
Each covenant the LORD made with man differes only in their details, but all rest on the same premise - trust and faith. God honors our trust and faith, but will always correct our errors because He loves us and wants us to be save.
This is the first time I have seen a public discussion about Sabbath and fasting (point #5). History shows that the church of Rome encouraged fasting on Sabbaths in order to influence worshippers to look forward to Sunday as a day of feasting and happiness. So people would be sad on Saturday and happy on Sunday. The traditional big Sunday meal is still a part of many cultures.
This raises the question if we should choose sabbaths for a day of prayer and fasting?
Ray, prayer and fasting can be done any day of the week but as I mentioned before, we, the people used the sabbath day for all of our conveniences. We fill the Sabbath with so many things at sunset on Sabbath we are so tired. One leader in the church said, Monday-Friday is for him to go to work, Sabbath is for his sabbath, and Sunday is for him to be with his wife. Actually speaking, he had something to do by his house but felt he should not be disturbed on Sunday.
The children of Israel where concerned about their welfare, they were afraid to die in the wilderness. It had been 45 days since their departure from Egypt, far from where they had been able to provide food for themselves – “and the whole congregation murmured against Moses and Aaron in the Wilderness.” They turned against Moses and his God and Moses turned to God to inquire about how to respond.
Exo.16:4KJV is an interesting verse: ”Then said LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.”
Exodus 16:12KJV notes the Lord’s response – not just Manna in the morning, but also quails every evening. There were no instructions attached to gathering the quails. The instructions related to gathering, preparing, and keeping of the Manna was not only practical advice, it was wherewith God tested the children of Israel whether they were obedient to His law and commandments or not. But some of the people doubted the words of Moses and wanted to see for themselves if it was so.
Exodus 16:27-30KJV – "And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide (or, stay within the camp) ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day.”
Exodus 16:32-35KJV – (34) ”As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept. (35) And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
The Sabbath is God’s Day of Rest in which we honor Him. We rest from distrusting Him, we rest from worries about how to provide for ourselves and family, we rest from the competitiveness of the struggle of living, and we remember who it is that provides the life-sustaining food from heaven which meets our physical and spiritual needs - His Way of Truth and Light!
Brigitte I don't believe they had quails every night read Numbers 11 they were complaining they didn't have meat. Notice the result!
Hi Shirley - to clarify: Exodus 16:12KJV - "I have heard the murmerings of the children of Israel; speak unto them, saying: At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God."
Thank you for pointing out Numbers11:18-20;31-33. It is a different account; though Scripture is always instructive about the ways of the Lord and good for us to read it. 🙂
Far from fasting on the Sabbath. They could gather one Omer for each one. One Omer is about 3.7 pounds of mana every morning according to need. That is two loaves of whole grains oatnut bread, 16 slices per loaf, 110 calories per slice. The Lord does not hold back with His blessings. Now for Sabbath they gathered two omers on Friday.
The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week according to Genesis, a long time before Sinai. Yes the Children of Israel needed a reminder to keep the Sabbath and put their trust in the Lord for all their needs. It was two months and 5 days since they left Egypt. They had already forgotten how the Lord had miraculously lead them to freedom and safety along the way. I do believe they had enough provisions at the time. They were looking into the future and not trusting in the Lord fully.
Someone should please help me with this.
Is the Sabbath a day of fasting?
Thomas, the LORD did not require the people to fast on Sabbath or any of the other feast days.
Thomas, please go back and read the responses under a previous question.
If the sabbath was the day of fasting then why did God provide manna on that day?