Opening God’s Free Gift
Reading Plan: We Need Reminded - Lessons From The Wilderness
Devotional: 3 of 3
“On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” So the people rested on the seventh day.”
Exodus 16:27-30 ESV
Today we are wrapping up a three-week reading plan exploring three of God’s truths that we need to be reminded of in today’s culture. In week one, we dug deep into the idea that God can be trusted yesterday, today, and forever. Last week, we looked closer at our second truth; God has a plan and purpose for our lives. Finally, today we will unpack our final truth about God; that He offers us a free gift of Sabbath rest.
On the sixth day, God provides enough food for two days allowing His people the opportunity to rest on the seventh day. Moses makes it clear that they would not find God’s provision in the field on the seventh day. However, only some of God’s people are obedient to the new instructions for the sixth day. The text is unclear why some of the people still went out to gather on the Sabbath. Was it because they had failed to collect enough for two days on the sixth day? Or could it have been that they did gather enough food for two days, and in their lack of trust, they wanted even more than God had promised to provide? Failure to prepare and our human greed are two traps that can cause us to miss out on the sabbath rest that God is offering us.
God implores His people to stay in their homes and accept His gift of rest. Day by day, trust is built, and the people finally obey God. But what about you and me? How will we respond to God’s free gift of sabbath rest? I know in my heart that the Sabbath is a gift from God. However, if I were honest, it has always felt more like a punishment. Taking one day a week to rest feels so contradictory to our current culture and doesn’t fit well with all of the plans that consume my mind. However, what if it really is a gift? A gift that shows up on my doorstep once a week and often goes unopened. What if God is offering you and me an opportunity to take a step towards trust each time we accept His free gift of the Sabbath? What if each time we open His free gift of the Sabbath, we take another step towards creating a rhythm of trust with God? What if each of those steps towards trust also helps us take another step away from control?
Oh God, please remind us of your truth. Remind us that in today’s uncertain, self-focused, and overextended society, we can still trust You, that You have a plan for our lives, and that when we build a habit of opening your free gift of the Sabbath, we create a rhythm of trust with You.
About the Author
Nathan Miller
You may know me as a husband, father, son, brother, friend, mentor, ultra marathoner runner, NBA basketball enthusiast, fan of all things tech, music lover and writer. However, the life blood that flows through everything that I strive to be comes from a desire for greater intimacy with Jesus Christ. He is my Savior, my Provider, my Lord and most of all my best friend.