The First Mention of The Sabbath
March 11, 2021
Commentary
The Lord instructs Moses to tell the Israelites they can gather all the manna they would like to bake or broil on the Sabbath (v. 23). The people did as they were instructed and it smelled fine and there was no worms (v. 24). Moses told them to eat all they wanted because it was the Sabbath and they will not find any food on the ground (vv. 25-26). Six days they will find it but not on the Sabbath. Some of the people were still curious so they went out to look but found none (v. 27). The Lord said to Moses, “How long will your people keep disobeying my laws and teachings (v. 28). Remember that I am the one who gave you the Sabbath (v. 29). That is why that on the sixth day I provide enough food for two days. Everyone needs to stay home and rest on the Sabbath.” So the people rested on the seventh day (v. 30).
The Israelites called this special food manna. It was white like coriander seed and it tasted like wafers made with honey (v. 31). Moses told the people that the Lord had said to store up two quarts of this manna so that future generations could see the food He had given them to eat in the wilderness after He rescued them from Egypt (v. 32). Moses told Aaron to put some manna in a jar and store it in a place of safe keeping for future generations to see (v. 33). Aaron followed the Lord’s instructions and put it in front of the sacred chest (v. 34). The Israelites continued to eat manna for forty years and until they came to the land of Canaan (vv. 35-36).
Application
It was important that the Israelites trusted the Lord and followed His instructions not to store up manna ahead of time but to trust Him each day for what they needed. I also need to go to the Lord each day in my Quiet-Time to get my spiritual food for that day.
Exodus 16:23– 36 (NET)
23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a time of cessation from work, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Whatever you want to bake, bake today; whatever you want to boil, boil today; whatever is left put aside for yourselves to be kept until morning.’”
24 So they put it aside until the morning, just as Moses had commanded, and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the area. 26 Six days you will gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”
27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather it, but they found nothing. 28 So the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to obey my commandments and my instructions? 29 See, because the Lord has given you the Sabbath, that is why he is giving you food for two days on the sixth day. Each of you stay where you are; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
31 The house of Israel called its name “manna.” It was like coriander seed and was white, and it tasted like wafers with honey.
32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Fill an omer with it to be kept for generations to come, so that they may see the food I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out from the land of Egypt.’” 33 Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put in it an omer full of manna, and place it before the Lord to be kept for generations to come.” 34 Just as the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the ark of the testimony for safekeeping.
35 Now the Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was inhabited; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. 36 (Now an omer is one-tenth of an ephah.)