The Sabbath Through the Ages
By Charles L. Taylor
IV. The Sabbath Marked by the Manna
The journey to the promised land has begun. In quick succession the judgments of God have fallen upon “all the gods of Egypt,” and as Israel have beheld the mighty rebuke administered to sun-worship and its tyranny, their faith has grown, their affections have weaned from idolatry, and they have learned in part to trust and obey Him “who only doeth wondrous things.” “By faith” they have passed through the Red Sea, the pursuing army of Egypt has been overwhelmed, and now has arrived the time when, without fear, they may “sacrifice unto Jehovah” and prove their loyalty to Him. With God’s people, there have come from Egypt “a mixed multitude.” In this multitude there were not only those who were actuated by faith in the God of Israel, but also a far greater number who desired only to escape from the plague, or who followed in the wake of the moving multitude, merely from excitement and curiosity. But whether Israelite, Egyptian, or other nationality, they are all in the company which is moving on toward Canaan, and to them God brings His test. Was it true that the Egyptian yoke had been broken that it might be possible for God’s people to honor Him in the observance of the Sabbath and thus be kept in living connection with Him as their creator and preserver?—Yes, surely. Over and over the stubborn king had been commanded, “Let My people go that they may serve Me;” and, as we have seen, the particular service which was at once called for was resting from brick-making on the Sabbath day. And now that the day of liberty has dawned, the law in general and the Sabbath in particular, are brought in as the necessary divine institution to fit them for their great calling. Almost the first words of assurance given to the journeying host were these: “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians.” Ex. 15:26. God’s commandments are to be the greatest rule of life and test of character, the great bulwark against sin and resultant disease. On the fifteenth day of the second month, only thirty days after leaving Egypt, the word of the Lord came, saying, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or no.” Ex. 16:4. Here we have from the Lord Himself a specific test proposed, and not only a test but the test by which to prove the loyalty and righteousness of the people. This is a most important matter, because from it we may learn what Jehovah considers the crucial truth of His wonderful law. The manna fell, and with it the people were given specific directions regarding its gathering and use. And, strange as it may seem to some, every detail of the plan was in a measure directly connected with the duty of Sabbath-keeping. A careful reading of Exodus 16 will reveal the following facts: First, the manna fell every day of the week, except the seventh; secondly, each day of the week, except the sixth (the day before the Sabbath), the people were to gather only what was needed for one day’s use; thirdly, on the sixth day, however, they were to gather a double portion, thus providing for the Sabbath day itself; fourthly, any manna not used during the first six days would not keep, but bred corruption; fifthly, the manna kept over from the sixth day was specially preserved throughout the twenty-four hours of the Sabbath; sixthly, no manna fell on the seventh day; seventhly, all the work of baking and cooking was to be completed before the Sabbath began. Brief tho the record may be, it is sufficiently complete to demonstrate the utter impossibility on man’s part of making even the slightest change in the requirements of Jehovah without incurring absolute failure. The whole plan was so divine and so miraculous that upon each detail hinged every other, thus demanding that all stand or fall together. Let us assume a desire in some individual to make a change in his day of worship. Believing that “one day in seven” is all that is really required, and also wishing to be in harmony with the great world around him, he elects to keep as holy time the first day of the week instead of the seventh. No sooner, however, does he begin to carry out his plan than he learns how futile are his efforts. On the seventh day, when he should have a double portion of manna for his rest-day, there is no manna to be found and so he must fast. On the first day when the manna does fall, he can not gather without violating the word not to gather during holy time. The effort to save up food from some other day for his first-day sabbath is worse than wasted, for when he comes to use it, he finds5it a loathsome mass of worms. The plan of God calls for seventh-day worship and no other. By three distinct miracles each week and during the long period of the wilderness march of forty years, the Lord pointed out the definite day of the Sabbath. Three absolute miracles every week!—A double supply given on the sixth day, none on the seventh day, and the extra portion of the sixth day preserved for the seventh day. For some reason there were to be found in the days of Israel, even as now, some who did not see the truth of God’s command. “And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.” How strange it is that men will not believe God really means what He says, that He is divinely particular! But He took note of the sin, and through His servant He sent the pointed message, “How long refuse ye to keep My commandments and My laws?” Dear reader, let it never be forgotten that Sabbath-keeping is Heaven’s great test of the true commandment-keeping. Men may reason that they are obeying God while still refusing to honor His rest-day; but it is just as true now as in the long ago that he who refuses the Sabbath of God’s appointment refuses to keep the law, and is a transgressor. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10. “How long refuse ye?” said the Lord. This was not Israel’s first introduction to the great truth of the Sabbath. Certainly it was revealed to them in Egypt and was made the issue of their deliverance; but that was not all. As we have seen, it had come down with an unbroken record from the very gates of Eden. And it had come as “the holy Sabbath.” Not a day, not any day, not one day; it was the day,—“the seventh day, which is the Sabbath.” Ex. 16:26. By 6,240 miracles—three each week for forty years—that little word “the” was emphasized by the Creator and driven home to the consciences of men. Now all those things happened unto them, but they are written for us. 1 Cor. 10:11. The lesson is plain. The unbroken week with its definite holy day under the care of the everlasting Creator, has been brought down to us. What will we do with the responsibility? “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”