Part 4: The Test
9. How did God test the Children of Israel in the wilderness?
“Then said the Lord unto Moses, 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. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily….And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the Lord: to day ye shall not 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. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day.” Exodus 16:4-5,25-30
Note: This test came before the ten commandments were written in stone or even in a book.
10. Who is God that we should give Him the seventh day?
“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” Isaiah 43:1
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11 (For further study see Matthew 12:8.)
Note: Jesus is both creator and redeemer. He is Lord of the Sabbath and is worthy of our devotion.
11. What is the sign of our allegiance to God?
“Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them. And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.” Ezekiel 20:12,20
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12 (For further study see Exodus 31:16-17.)
Note: The Sabbath commandment is a special sign of God’s people as it is the only commandment that contains God’s name (“Lord thy God”), God’s title (Creator), His dominion (heaven and earth) and His work (sanctification). The Sabbath is a banner in the hand of God’s people that says, “I obey the only true God, the Creator and redeemer who does sanctify* me.”