There are few stories regarding the keeping of the Sabbath in the Old Testament. I would like to refer to two stories. One is before the Law was given and the other after. Both speak to the purposes of the Sabbath.
In Numbers 15 we read about a man who went out on the Sabbath to gather sticks which was against the Sabbath regulations. How often we are out gathering sticks when we need to rest in worship. This story speaks against the busyness of our lives and there is a time to stop the busyness.
In Exodus 16 Moses commanded the people to collect enough manna on the sixth day so that they would not need to collect on the Sabbath. Some had seen what had happened to manna when it was kept from one day to the next so they went out on the Sabbath to collect the manna and there was none. This speaks of trust. The Sabbath is a day of trust. When we think that if we don't collect our manna on the Sabbath our family will starve but God says, "Trust me in this. I care about your family more than you do. Just trust Me."
Mark Buchanan says, "Cease from what is necessary. Embrace what gives life." We need to cease from our busyness and trust God with what is necessary and then go out and embrace life.
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