James Foote
Exodus 16:25-26. And Moses said, Eat that today; for today is a Sabbath unto the Lord: today ye shall find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none.
- We have here a proof that the Sabbath is always to be observed everywhere. It is mentioned at this time, when Israel had just left Egypt, not
1Part of a letter written in October 1777 to a widow. It is taken, with editing, from Newton’s Works, vol 2.
1Taken, with editing, from The Christian’s Daily Companion. Foote (1781-1856) became a minister in Aberdeen in 1825; he was latterly in the Free Church.
as something new, but as an institution with which the Israelites were already familiar. It is incidentally implied that they were already aware of the institution, though they needed to be reminded of the duty of observing it strictly. It was very natural thus to state a reason for the particular directions given about the manna. We should notice too that there is a plain indication of the division of time into weeks and, course, of the Sabbath as a turning point, in the directions for observing the passover before the Israelites left Egypt: “Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread” (Ex 12:15). Let no lax, mistaken theories shake our orthodoxy on this point, or have any discouraging effect on our keeping the Sabbath holy.
- Let us mark with reverence the example which the Lord God Himself sets of the sanctification of the Sabbath in this part of sacred history. By resting from His works of creation, He gave us an example at the original institution of the ordinance. And here He gives us an example again in the way he proceeds in His extraordinary providences, and also miraculously. He rains manna from heaven on six days of the week, but on the seventh day He ceases from that work, and no manna is given. He orders it so that though, on the first five days the week, however much the people gathered, they all had just a certain quantity; yet on the sixth day they gathered it in greater abundance, so that when it was measured and prepared they had twice as much.
God’s general order was, “Let no man leave of it till the morning”; and if anyone transgressed and kept part of it, it became putrid. On the sixth day, however, His order was, “That which remaineth over, lay up for you to be kept until the morning”. And when they did so, they found it perfectly fresh the next morning. How can we fail to see in all this the very striking example of Jehovah Himself and the special interest He displays in the sanctification of the Sabbath, by working at least three miracles in honour of it? Let us devoutly observe this; and let us, in relation to the Sabbath, be “followers of God as dear children”, as far as we can imitate His ways.
- In this part of the sacred history we have several points of instruction about our own duty of sanctifying the Sabbath.
(1.) This passage teaches us a lesson of diligence on the other days of the week, in order that we may have it in our power to rest on the sacred day. Even when the manna was given miraculously, God would not dispense with their gathering of it diligently. Similarly we are all called to use diligence during the working days, so that we may afford to rest on the Sabbath.
(2.) We are taught, in one part of this history, to make special preparation for the Sabbath on the day immediately before it: “Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake today, and seethe that which ye will seethe”. We read also, in the New Testament, of
the “day of preparation, when the Sabbath drew on”. While therefore it is well to have the privileges of the Sabbath in view throughout the week, we are particularly called on to think of them and prepare for them, on the day before. It is clear that as little work as possible should be left till the Sabbath, even though it may relate to food or the most necessary affairs of life. Thus, though the table may not be furnished with such variety, the fare will be good; for there will be a good conscience in partaking of it, being “sanctified by the word of God and prayer”.
(3.) We are here taught the sin and folly of prosecuting worldly business with a view to worldly gain on the day of holy rest. In defiance of God’s command, “some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather manna, and they found none. And the Lord said, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?” It is right to be diligent in business, but to carry business into the Sabbath is positively forbidden and certainly incurs God’s displeasure. This is probably one reason why some do not thrive. And this is plainly the reason why some have no solid pleasure and are strangers to the peace of God. He grants them, it may be, their worldly desire, but sends leanness into their souls. Let us also act up to the spirit of the command, “Abide ye every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day”. This teaches us not to leave our home on the Sabbath for secular business or pleasure or travelling.
(4.) While the directions about the manna furnish us with much instruction relating to the Sabbath, let us also note the typical meaning of that miraculous food. We need support for our bodies, but we also need spiritual nourishment for our souls. God fed the Israelites with manna, that He might make them and us know that “man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord”. Jesus said, “Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. I am the bread of life; he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.” Let us seek this nourishment every day, and especially on the Sabbath Day. Let us earnestly seek an interest in all the benefits the Saviour purchased, and an abundant supply of the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that we may be nourished up into eternal life.
“Lord, evermore give us this bread!” So shall we have strength to pass on through this earthly wilderness and arrive at last in safety and comfort at the Canaan which is above.
Our Saviour’s rule is, Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness – first in order of time, first in importance, first in the urgency of desire and in the strenuousness of endeavour – and all other things shall be added unto you.
William Henry Green