What Part Didn't You Understand?

"Today you shall not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day is the Sabbath to the LORD.  In it there shall be none.  On the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather, and they found none.  The LORD said to Moses, "How long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? Behold, because the LORD has given you the Sabbath, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days."  Exodus 16:25-29

Sabbath is a command, not a suggestion, yet it seems we have no qualms about breaking it weekly.  Here, you have God telling the people on day six to harvest enough for day seven because there won't be anything to get, yet some people go out anyway on day seven to see what they can find! Ummmmm, what part didn't you understand? 

So much to take away from such a short paragraph, but today I'd like to focus on those who went out to the fields anyway. They had already harvested enough on day six to fill their bellies on day seven, yet they wanted more.  1) They did not believe the words God spoke regarding nothing will be provided. 2) Were they gluttonous and just wanted more?  3) Did they get fear filled when nothing was there to harvest, or did they finally believe God will provide in His timing. 

They chose to break a command and God watched them do it. He watches us do it also. So why don't most practice Sabbath? Too busy? Too stressed? The demands of family? The desire for more shoes?  The list of excuses is truly endless. Trust me, I know them all. I've said them all. 

Notice the final line of today's scripture. "Because the LORD has given you the Sabbath..."  Sabbath is a gift. Sabbath is a choice. God proved then that He provides all needs to sustain His children and trust is what's required on our part. For some odd reason, we believe that the world will stop revolving if we stop "gathering" for one day. This is the opposite of who we were created to be. God stopped. Some Jews stopped. We refuse to stop.  In this hectic, crazy, confusing, often dark world, we've been given the gift of peace and rest and renewal fifty-two times a year. A time to reflect trust and give thanks to the one who provides. You do realize the money for the shopping or extra-curricular activities or cabin or boat or home is provided by God, don't you? Taking a day to show thanks would be nice.

Should you ever want to experience holy while on this earth, implement Sabbath.

Imagine searching high a low and finding the perfect gift for someone you love. A gift that will make their life better, healthier, happier.  You're so excited to give it. You wrap it, put a note on it, excitedly hand it to them, and they set it aside because they have to be somewhere and say will open it later.  This is the scenario with Sabbath. It's a gift most refuse to open, but it's a gift that will change your life for the better. I feel it's also a challenge from God. "Test me, let me prove I will provide. Realize I have greater things for you than what you're experiencing, but you need to stop in order to live it."  Stopping in order to live. Now there's a healthy concept.