PICKING UP STICKS AND KINDLING A FIRE.
By Roswell F. Cottrell
The Israelites in the desert were forbidden to kindle fires in their habitations on the Sabbath. They had no need of fire to keep them warm, and their cooking for the Sabbath was done, as it is done now by those who keep the Sabbath, on the sixth day of the week. But the Sabbath was made for man, and it requires nothing hard or unmerciful of him. In the cold season there were times when fires were needed in Palestine, and it was right, and in perfect harmony with the Sabbath law, to kindle them on the Sabbath day. Objectors against the Sabbath argue that the Sabbath commandment is not applicable here, because fires are needed, and it prohibits them. The Sabbath law contains no such prohibition. Fires are not forbidden where they are needed. They were not needed in the desert; and hence no one would kindle a fire but for some unlawful purpose. But they were needed in the land of Israel, and the prohibition in the desert was not applicable there; but the commandment was, and so it is here. It is amusing how flippantly objectors will talk of “picking up sticks and kindling fires” being forbidden to those required to keep the Sabbath; as though the man that was “found gathering sticks” was doing so only to build a fire. The testimony taken in its connection shows that he was presumptuously pursuing his ordinary labors on that day,—gathering timbers for some mechanical industry, perhaps. The gathering of sticks and the kindling of fires have no connection, only as they are brought together by those who wish to excuse themselves from keeping the commandment of God. The Lord Jesus has said, “The Sabbath was made for man.” To disprove this statement, men argue thus: The commandment forbids the kindling of fires. But fires are needed here. Therefore the Sabbath was made only for the Jews. How often we hear it said that the Gentiles were never required to keep the Sabbath. But there is positive evidence to the contrary. Right in connection with the incident of the gathering of sticks on the Sabbath, related as an illustration of the demerit of presumptuous sins, it is said, “Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among you. But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.” Num. 15:29, 30. And in Isa. 56, the same gracious promises which are made to Israel are extended to the “sons of the stranger” who serve the Lord, “every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it.” These testimonies prove that in the service of the Lord there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles. Let us examine these popular arguments a little, to see if they bring us to the conclusions which are inferred. The Sabbath is only intended for those living in a warm climate, where no fires are needed for warming the people. Therefore the Sabbath was made only for the Jews. Is this conclusion logical? Jews have lived in different climates. From the premises the conclusion should be: Jews and Gentiles in a warm climate should keep the Sabbath; but neither are under obligation to keep it in a cold climate. But if the Sabbath was made for the Jews, and not for the Gentiles, then the Jews are under obligation to keep it wherever they are, if it were in “Greenland’s icy mountains,” or under the burning sun of the torrid zone. Let those who argue from such premises bring out the conclusion to which their premises lead.