This is a test of the EBS, please stand by

Exodus Chapter 16

"Can you trust the one who's asking?" That's the point, no need to read anymore, that is the whole ball of wax, but in case you’re interested ….

The Israelites complain to Moses that they are hungry, and GOD gives them Manna from heaven. GOD instructs the people through Moses on what to do. They will go out and collect a day’s portion, GOD will test them and see if they follow his instructions. This Sabbath day command is given to the people before Sinai. For just a moment let us jump back to the Garden of Eden, if GOD had given the Man and Woman a command for example not to hit people or animals with sharp and pointy objects. They could say that command makes sense, all the information I have says that will hurt, wound, and possibly do a lot of damage, I can agree with that. The command however was, not to eat the fruit of one tree, it does not make sense. All the evidence leads one to believe that it should be ok, it looks good, we eat other fruits, it could have other benefits, what is GOD withholding from me? The real question is can you trust the one who is asking? Meanwhile back in the wilderness of Sin GOD is given them Mana and tells them, do not leave any of the Manna until morning, there will be more supplied tomorrow. On the sixth day they are to gather twice as much because there will not be any on the seventh day, the Sabbath. Keep in mind the Israelites have no point of reference for this new day of rest. The Torah has not been written yet; Moses is a little busy right now. There is no mention of an oral tradition, or even Abraham observing such a thing and we have not reached Sinai yet, so no 10 commandments.

Just like Eden these instructions have no data points that make sense. In Egypt they worked hard, and a day of rest was probably foreign, pun intended. If food is available one day it may not be there the next, especially if you did not store it or prepare for lean times. One day is no different than the next when it comes to getting food. Also, if the Manna was there six days in a row, logical thought should dictate that it will still be there on the seventh, what is GOD trying to hide?  All this boils down to this, the information you know is telling you one thing, but GOD is telling you something different.  The question then is can you trust the one who is asking? GOD was asking the Israelites to trust him and do what was right in his sight not theirs. This question was tackled by Adam and the Woman (Eve), I believe this question was also tackled by the sons of GOD, as they were tasked with taking care of these lesser created beings (us) and told we would be part of GOD’s family. By all the external evidence, some of these sons of GOD believed that humans should be serving them and not the other way around. Can the sons of GOD trust the one who is asking? Some obviously did not. Did the Israelites trust the one who was asking? Similar outcome as well. GOD sent his word, Jesus, Emanuel GOD with us, took our punishment, paid our debt, and died for us…. So the question for us, today, in the here and now, can you trust the one who is asking?  (I do)

Next – Water, War, and a Word of advice