Monday: Time for Rediscovery
When Moses is asked to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, it is clear that the masses have lost their perspective as children of God. They need to rediscover who the God is who asks for their worship and gives them so many promises of an amazing future. The Sabbath is a pivotal learning experience in their journey of rediscovery. It also becomes a clear signal to other nations of the special relationship between God and this nation. The experience of the manna epitomizes God’s way of educating the Israelites.
In Exodus 16:14-29, what lessons are there for the Israelites to learn?
Image © Pacific Press at Goodsalt.com
God provides the miracle of the manna for the Israelites, giving them just enough food for each day. If He gave them more than that amount, they then might forget who their provider was. So every day He performed a miracle for them, and they saw God’s care. On the Sabbath, however, the situation was different, just as the day was to be special. Now two miracles were performed: double food on Friday, and the food did not spoil overnight. That left the Sabbath for the Israelites to marvel at the God who was their deliverer and to rediscover what it meant to be the people of God.
The Israelites were to eat this manna 40 years (Exod: 16:35). God also instructs Moses to keep an omer of manna to remind the Israelites of how He fed them in the wilderness ( Exodus 16.32-33). It would also have been a reminder of the particular experience of the Sabbath day.
There are also other occasions when God makes clear to the Israelites that the Sabbath is special.
The Sabbath was a way God helped the Israelites rediscover their identity and their God. They were asked to obey and keep the Sabbath holy, but this was in the context of developing a deeper understanding of the character of their Creator and about building a lasting relationship of promise.
| You are talking to a teenager who is finding Sabbath “boring.” He is keeping it only because that is what the Bible and his parents say he must do. What suggestions will you give to help him (re)discover the Sabbath as a positive learning experience? |
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We focus quite a bit on the liturgical aspects of Sabbath-keeping, and if you ever want to spark up a debate in Adventist circles, just suggest a change in the style or time of worship services. But the Sabbath is about 24 hours long and we have about 16 waking hours in that period. If we spend about 3 hours of that time in Sabbath School and Church, and a couple of hours eating, that still leaves about 10 waking Sabbath hours. By any stretch, that is a lot of time to "fill in".
I am sure that most of us find plenty to do during those hours on Sabbath, but I am also mindful that some of us run out of ideas, particularly where families are concerned. I remember when we lived in Adelaide (South Australia) and our children were primary school age, we lived near the Mount Lofty Ranges, a ridge of hills to the east of Adelaide. We would often climb a particular hill called Anstey Hill on Sabbath afternoon. It got rid of a bit of youthful energy. But I have to admit that we did it so often, that the kids used to say, "Oh no! Not Anstey Hill again!". So we had to come up with other ideas about what to do. Meeting with other families helped and we developed firm friendships that have lasted until today.
The Sabbath was never meant to be boring, and we should be creative in the way we use it. Some of our long established institutions like Pathfinders (JMVs in my day) could provide an opportunity to rediscover some of those activities that draw us closer to God and one another. Or, am I just getting a bit nostalgic about the "good old days"?
How does the 40 year miracle of the morning manna help me understand and experience the character of the LORD.
40 years in those days was a lifetime/generation.
They had to collect it every day early in the morning before it dissolved, one person per tent, enough for all and it had to be eaten that day.
Although they collected enough on Friday for the Sabbath as well.
What have I learned about my relationship with the LORD from the manna? Firstly it is for my lifetime, secondly I need to renew it daily early in the morning, thirdly He has made a weekly date with me to enjoy the whole day with Him.
May I add a 4th: the Lord provided for them so that they may not have to 'work' on the Sabbath to put food on the table. This takes trust and acknowledging God for your provisions, (even if it doesn't seem to appear miraculously.)
Horace- happy birthday to you today and may my Friend and Guide, guide you all the way as you cont to enjoy many more such happy birthdays. You have lived 12 more than what way appointed to man. Isn't He wonderful? Psm 90:1-17.
If one's waited 'til the child is a teenager to have this discussion, the child is probably reflecting the attitude of the parents: sabbath is not a joy, it is a chore. However, for those that were not raised to keep a sabbath and brought into it later, I suggest the answer is in the lesson. Whatever one does, use it to get to know God better. Pray, study, read, use the suggestions of Mr Ashton above . . . but if the parents are not setting an example it may be a lost cause.
I think an example was given already of the grandmother who found a way to keep her restless grandchildren quiet during the long prayer in church. She taught the children to pray for what matters to them. I believe eventually, if brought up in Christ, the children will learn to care for the concerns of others, and God, as well.
Thank you lesson writers for the invite to dwell on the concept of "rediscovering God" today. And linking that to the word "boring".
Much in life on the surface appears to be repetition. The sun rising and setting every day. The routine of physical functions we share with all animals. Going to jobs. Our relationships, too, may start to become stuck. Sometimes we interpret the very presence of a mate/spouse/
family member/coworker as being the source of irritation, or reminder of past failures and disappointments. We grow tired of viewing them in the same way and it is we, ourselves, who stick others in a box and then grow tired of our boxes full of the "other". We do this to God too.
When Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is for childlike hearts (Matt 19:14) I think He was telling us to learn from children how to embrace life. Generally children let the past slip off their shoulders, they don't hold onto resentments or dwell in the past. They pop out of bed eager for that moment and for what lies ahead. When we say "over the hill and picking up speed" I think sometimes that acceleration is due to the fact that we have lost the ability to hold each present moment as a diamond drop of time and to live the "now" fully with Jesus. It rushes by with a feeling of sameness until we slow it down enough to go one step at a time, ignoring the boisterous waves around us and looking only at Jesus (Matthew 14:29-31).
It's in that Sabbath quietness (and Alleluia isn't every day a Sabbath with Jesus! Matt 11:28-30) ..... in our quietness yoked to Him that we begin to notice that nothing is ever the same. The people around us are changing moment by moment and we are invited to love them as we would a new universe to explore. What is God doing in that person's life today? As we meet with God daily in study, prayer, worship our understanding of Him is growing and each day we see new evidences of His Hand in our circumstances (Lamentations 3:22-23).
My mate said to me once when we were sitting in a restaurant we loved, "Do you notice that each time we come it is never the same?" I paused and realized how right he was. Absolutely everything was different in each memory - our moods, our conversation, our choices off the menu, the other diners around us, etc.
To wrap up, and thinking of raising kids to love the full 24 hours of a Sabbath day, perhaps early on we could take our cues from them. They often attempt to slow us down. For a lot of people weekends are filled with kids' sports or arts events, grocery shopping, housework, homework, catching up with friends and family, fitting in as many "fun" things as possible. Given the opportunity, children know that some of the sweetest moments are when we are still together. Laying on our backs staring up at the clouds floating into shapes. Huddled over an ant hill watching the ants carry bits in and out. My best friend keeps a very busy schedule for her family and last time she was visiting me and we were walking rapidly along a river her youngest called out, "Mom, can we please just sit here awhile and watch the river".
Amen Esther, I have often thought the same. Sabbath should be a time to slow down and notice the small things in life.
Thanks Lyn. I consider every day beyond 70 is a bonus and cause for celebration . Today’s question re young people and “boring “ Sabbath continues to concern me. I believe we have let them see us more closely associate Sabbath with the daily blessings were receive. Let them hear us thank God for various blessings during the week and on Sabbath we have the time free from the daily grind to fellowship with HIM and fellow believers .It would help if more adults befriended our young people. Apart from my parents and aunts I still remember long departed saints who took special interest in me and my sibs who helped make Sabbath a delight.
I also fondly remember spending time with older adults as a child, hearing their stories of how life used to be and their various experiences. We used to visit the local nursing home every Sunday (I grew up Baptist) and spend an hour or two with our "many grandparents." The time was well enjoyed all around. As a parent of young adults I am beginning to better relate to the young people and understand their needs in today's world. Teens and young adults are the most vulnerable in our society, let us be aware and be ready to reach out in support of them rather than condemnation.
When reading through Exodus 16:14-29KJV, – it appears to me that the lesson for the Israelites as well as for us lies in the understanding that we need to learn to trust God. Once I understood that the Truth I learn from the Scriptures has two applications which are inseparably intertwined – the application for the spiritual relationship with the Heavenly Father and the application for the physical life – I gave Him the reigns to my life and trust Him explicitly with its cares - Heb.4:9-10KJV.
If I had not discovered/understood the deeper meaning of ‘Rest’ as I walk by Faith in the Light of God, my life would still be lived in confusion about how to manage it rightly.
In my opinion, ‘Time for Rediscovery’ of our relationship with the Father is all about deciding to love Him with all our being first which leads us to trust Him that, when we walk in His Way of Truth and Light, He will provide for our needs – Matt.11:28-30KJV; this gives Rest to our soul – in Christ's faith and character, like a quilted cover, is our Rest!
No matter man's efforts through *works*, he cannot re-establish the type of Rest he experienced in the Garden of Eden; but never the less, through faith, the Father has given the living soul the means to experience His Paradise-Rest!
He promised the Children of Israel: Exodus 33:14KJV – “… My Presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” Since the Beginning of man and throughout the time of reacquaintance with the Father, He offers His Children the Rest of HIS Care; His care which is contained in His ‘Bread of Life’ and His Well of the ‘Word of Truth’, promising *Rest* to the living soul which partakes of them.
Resting in God’s Sabbath-care - fasting/abstaining from our toils and pleasures - knowing who it is that provides our means for living - understanding that we do not need to fret and become anxious about our safety and care as long as we stay under our Father’s care through faithful observance of the principles of His Way of Life - this is what our youth need to be taught!
Psalm 127:2KJV – speaks to, warns of the vanity of working from morning until night, “eating the bread of anxious toil.”
Isaiah 30:15KJV – “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall by your strength: and ye would not.”
Isaiah 40:28-31KJV – This promise is one of my most cherished ones:
“Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew(change) their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Thank you Maurice for your valuable input. I unfortunately find that parents of these days are too casual about children and technology. This cause me to be super careful to allow my children to take part in any group teenage activities without me being either present or regularly checking on them... My problem with technology is that parents are blind to the evils that cell phone or tablets bring to a group of young people. Unfortunately not all parents agree with my standard of what is acceptable entertainment and what is not.
What I came to realized in the bible were the people (whether old or young) spiritual condition and in our time it is the same with God. When I was younger I used to ask myself- how can people not do anything on sabbath but church, church and more church. Church Friday night, church Sabbath mornings, go home return to MV/AY, return home. Some even listened to church again on Saturday night.
As I got older I realized being with God in prayer, reading bible or listening to spiritual songs, doing AY etc time goes so fast.
I guess the people were saying manna, manna and more manna. All we got was manna. It was their distrust in God that caused them to go out during the week to collect more, some collected more than their portion during the week which spoiled, and some even went out on the sabbath.
But what about us, are we trusting God to supply our manna during the week and for Sabbath? Are we saying just like them, manna, manna and more manna?
Do the young people hear us, the older ones speaking our own words on the Sabbath or doing our own thing?
Sabbath is what we make it. It was meant to be a joy with the Lord but Satan blinded our eyes to that truth.
This is my answer to Monday question.
There is need for creativity in designing the church programmes and content. Have you realised that during Music Sabbath most Youth come to church and remain engaged even up to sunset? Its because the Youth love music. Most of the programmes are tailored for adults. Sabbath School teachers especially Youth teachers need to connect and know whats happening in the world and how it is affecting the Youth. Every country, geography, culture is unique and this should inform content and programming. Thinking in this way will help the church/ teacher to identify the relevant context and use catchy examples to deliver the intended lessons. This could make Sabbath programmes fun and hopefully make Sabbath day fulfilling for teenagers.
I know of this family that makes Sabbath afternoons about a Nature adventure. Creating "arts" or a craft for others is a positive. Doing a service for others is good as well.
The Sabbath is only boring to those who have no idea why it exists or WHOM it is about. Understand THIS and boredom will cease. The other cause would be that one does not find the works of the Lord "great and marvelous", or His ways "just and true"(Rev 15:3).