Manna And The Sabbath

On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as usual—four quarts for each person instead of two. Then all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation. He told them, “This is what the LORD commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the LORD. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.” [Exodus 16.22-23]

It occurred to me today that manna and the Sabbath are interrelated.

Manna was all about provision. The Sabbath was all about rest.

The interesting thing about this though is that provision (manna) was provided for the rest (the Sabbath).

To understand how this relates to us (the New Testament Church), it must first be considered that God established this pattern.

So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. [Genesis 2.1-3]

God worked six days engineering and creating the world to sustain (provide for) itself (Genesis 1). Then He rested on the seventh. Pay attention, because if we fail to see Jesus in this pattern, we have missed the point.

In John 5, Jesus said this:

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]

With this established, and, even though manna was indeed a miracle in and of itself, it still required work (gathering) to enjoy the provision. This fleshed out in the Law as it was given to Moses and proved to be a laborious burden upon Israel. Even though the Law indeed provided blessings, effort was required to enjoy its benefits. 

In contrast, the Sabbath (as part of the Law) was a welcome and anticipated reprieve. Jesus likewise came in much-anticipated fulfillment of the Sabbath.

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. [Matthew 5.17]

We could go so far as to say, "Jesus is the Sabbath" as He is Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12.8) and the rest associated with it!

So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. [Hebrews 4.11] 

Now, watch this:

It would appear however that God only rested one day. After that first Sabbath in Genesis 1, God resumed His work and, according to Jesus, it is perpetual! 

So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” [John 5.16-17]

If God is always working and Jesus is always working, then what are we to be doing?

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” [John 20.21] 

As we enter by faith the Sabbath rest of Jesus Christ, our work is the work of Jesus and therefore the work of God! Every provision has already been made and is (or should be) of no concern to us (Matthew 6.33). We are ambassadors for the Kingdom of God:

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” [2 Corinthians 5.19-20]

Every seventh day, Israel not only enjoyed the goodness of God's miraculous provision, but the goodness of God Himself in rest. All who are in Christ enjoy God's eternal goodness and live in a perpetual seventh day Sabbath of rest! Our spiritual and material needs are met so we might confidently tell the world of God's goodness and redemption.

Father, may these words serve as a springboard to understand more and more about the rest we enter in Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your Son! So be it.