And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

God Provides Rest

God in his providence and the gift of manna, also established the Sabbath day rest for the people of the Exodus. They probably had not been allowed to practice this in captivity. There are no days off for slaves, but as we have said, God’s people were no longer slaves. Now God, their creator says, you need a full day of rest. God knew, they needed manna and quails, God knew they would need two days worth on Friday because God knew what was needed for the entire journey to the promised Land and beyond. In His providence He would provide, and the Hebrews needed to realize, by these things, to trust Him more.

So, on the sixth day, they would gather twice the amount of manna and the seventh day, the Sabbath of the Lord, they would be blessed in the rest that God had provided. God made provision on that day that the manna would not rot but would remain until the following day. (miracle within a miracle, isn’t God amazing.)

Well what do you think happened? Did they all take the morning off? Take time to just worship the Lord, and enjoy a fellowship meal that didn’t have to go out and? Not really, some of those same people are unable to trust Him fully. They get up, gather their baskets and go outside looking for manna on the Sabbath day. They didn’t trust God for the days when there would be no bread from heaven.

Blessing In God’s Rest

I wonder, if we had been there with the Hebrews on that first Sabbath Day or rest, would we have been with those resting in our Lord provision or would we have been seen outside our tents scrounging for manna that wasn’t ever going to be there? I’d like to think I would be kicking back fully assured of God’s word and enjoy time with my family and getting read to worship the Lord. That’s what I’d like to think, but I’m almost afraid that though I wouldn’t grab a basket and run out to look for manna, I might have still crept to the tent flap and peeked out to make sure there was no manna. That’s just me, I’m sure none of you would have your eye to the tent flap.

I need this lesson and so do you. I need to understand that God in his providence has given us rest. There is much more that God wants to give to us than just what we think we need. The Israelites needed rest, but they didn’t know it, they didn’t ask for it. All they could see was empty stewpots but they needed more than food. God knew they needed rest and they needed to learn how to rest in God’s promises.

We may think that we just need to bring our list of necessities to God and faith begins and ends with the asking and the waiting for His answer, but true faith goes far beyond what we can see and know in the here and now. This is the doctrine of Providence and it leads us to true faith.

True faith realizes that God is eternal and that He sees beyond today and tomorrow and right on into eternity. That He sees and knows all things that pertain to us and beyond us. True faith realizes that trust is based upon knowing God not just knowing His blessings. True faith learns to rest upon the Lord and finds that eternity begins even before we die. True faith looks for and longs for the rest that God will provide though Jesus Christ, here and now and throughout eternity.

Listen to the way Paul taught this in  Hebrews 4:1-11 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Oh how I want to move from simple dependence on God for my needs today to true faith in My Lord for all days and all things. I want to move from faith to faith. I want to move from expectation to complete trust. I want to move into the reality of the “rest” of God. I want to truly live and act according to my understanding of the Providence of God.

I think the song, Dwelling in Beulah Land is about the rest and providence of God. It describes an attitude of faith and overcoming based up God and his provision for us.

Far away the noise of strife upon my ear is falling.
Then I know the sins of earth beset on every hand.
Doubt and fear and things of earth in vain to me are calling.
None of these shall move me from Beulah Land.

Viewing here the works of God, I sink in contemplation.
Hearing now His blessèd voice, I see the way He planned.
Dwelling in the Spirit here I learn of full salvation.
Gladly will I tarry in Beulah Land.

Refrain: I’m living on the mountain, underneath a cloudless sky.
I’m drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry.
O yes! I’m feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply,
For I am dwelling in Beulah Land.