Exodus 16:23
And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow 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.
Exodus 16:23
In Exodus 16, God gives the Israelites miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness, teaching them trustful dependence and structured worship. Verse 23 records a clear directive tied to the LORD’s cadence: the day after the gathering, they should rest—the Sabbath—by preparing a portion of the bread baked or seethed on the previous day. The instruction hinges on a pattern: today you bake and boil for today, and what remains is kept for tomorrow. This is not merely culinary instruction; it is a theology of time and sanctification. The Sabbath is not a manual labor day; it’s a day set apart to reorient life around God’s provision and presence. The phrase “unto the LORD” signals worship and covenant relationship. Culturally, the wilderness setting made daily provisioning precarious; God’s command teaches that even in scarcity, obedience reorients the entire community around trust, rest, and remembrance. The manna itself becomes a weekly rhythm, a weekly reminder that God provides beyond human labor and expectations.
This verse foregrounds Sabbath as a divine gift, not a burden. It anchors Israel’s identity as a people defined by God’s sustenance and presence. The interplay of preparation and rest embodies a holistic spirituality: worship shaped by daily expectation and routine. Theologically, it highlights God’s sovereignty over time and creation—He controls both the manna’s arrival and its lasting quality when obeyed. It also prefigures New Testament themes of rest in Christ and God’s rest for His people. The instruction to bake or seethe and store invites trust that God’s mercy is sufficient for both today and tomorrow, without fear of waste or lack. Moreover, it reinforces communal ethics: the whole community adheres to a rhythm that benefits all, not just the industrious. Obedience becomes a visible sign of fidelity to the Covenant God who shaped their story.
We can translate this to our weekly rhythms today. How often do we try to “control” tomorrow by overworking today? The verse invites practical discipline: set aside a portion of effort and energy for rest and worship now, trusting God to provide anew. For families, this might mean a shared Sabbath meal, unplugging from screens, and choosing rest over extra to-dos. In the workplace, it could mean planning ahead so Friday evening transitions into a lighter Saturday, preserving time for God and community. The manna metaphor encourages contentment with today’s provisions while looking to God’s ongoing faithfulness. Don’t let anxiety drive constant toil; honor rest as a spiritual discipline that shapes character—patience, gratitude, and trust. Practical example: prepare a simple meal on Friday, store a portion safely, and avoid work-related tasks on the Sabbath, using the day instead for worship, conversation, and renewal.
Cross-References: Genesis 2:2–3; Exodus 20:8–11; Deuteronomy 5:12–15; Psalm 95:11; Hebrews 4:9–11