Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much – two omers for each person – and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 23 He said to them, ‘This is what the Lord commanded: “Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.”’

24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 ‘Eat it today,’ Moses said, ‘because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.’

27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.’ 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

The pattern of only gathering enough for each day was interrupted once a week so that the Sabbath could be honoured.

Again we see it is vital to obey God to the letter. There were unwanted consequences for failing to do so. God’s Word is to be taken seriously.

Note the simple and wonderful truth that God makes it possible for His people to do what He commands (29).

As Christians we are not obligated to worship God on a Saturday, but I believe the principle of ‘sabbath’ holds good. The structure of six days of work and one of rest is built into the order of creation. It is good to realise that the universe goes on without our busy involvement. God was running it before we were born, and He will continue to run it after we have gone!

Here is an honest confession from an article written by Dru Johnson: ‘Christians should be marked by a sense of stillness, practices of stillness. If I am honest about it, I am terrified of being still because it quietly affirms that I am not in charge.’

But…

‘For best results, follow the Maker’s instructions!’

‘There are more important things to do than hurry.’ Robert Farrar Capon.