Manna & The Sabbath | Exodus 16

In Exodus 16, for the first time in Scripture, the Sabbath is introduced not merely as a command, but as a lived reality. Before Sinai, before the Ten Commandments are even given, God weaves a weekly pattern of rest into His provision of manna. He instructs the people to gather double on the sixth day, assuring them that none will appear on the seventh. When some ignore this and go out to gather anyway, they find nothing — and God rebukes them: “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?” (Ex. 16:28).

So why does this matter?

Because the Sabbath in Exodus 16 is more than a rule — it’s a test of trust. It is a declaration that God's people are not sustained by their own hustle, their own labor, or their own ability to gather. They are sustained by the word and provision of the Lord.

William Perkins wrote that “the rest of the Sabbath is not idleness, but faith — resting from our works and trusting in God’s.” In other words, Sabbath isn't about doing nothing; it’s about doing the most important thing: relying on God as our provider, not ourselves.

That’s why the Sabbath is so central in this chapter. It teaches us not to gather more than we should, not to work endlessly as if everything depends on us, and not to ignore God’s boundaries in pursuit of our own comfort or control.

But what about us today? Most Christians don’t keep a Saturday or Sunday “Sabbath” in the Old Testament sense. That’s true — and biblically right. The ceremonial Sabbath was fulfilled in Christ. Colossians 2:16–17 tells us not to let anyone judge us regarding Sabbaths, because they were a shadow of things to come — the substance is Christ.

Yet the principle behind the Sabbath still stands.

Hebrews 4:9 says, “There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” What is it? It’s the spiritual rest found in Christ — rest from the burden of law-keeping, self-justification, and the treadmill of performance. It’s also a call to live with godly structure — regular times of worship, rest, reflection, and dependence.

John MacArthur notes that the Sabbath in Exodus 16 teaches believers that “God’s provision is sufficient, and our striving must come to an end.” We must not only work to the glory of God — we must learn to rest to the glory of God.

Today, we apply the Sabbath principle by setting apart consistent time to stop, worship, reflect, and recalibrate our hearts around the sufficiency of Christ. Whether it’s a Sunday Lord’s Day gathering or simply a quiet evening devoted to prayer and gratitude, the heart and intent of "the Sabbath" is trust.

And in a culture obsessed with busyness, hurry, and productivity, nothing is more countercultural — or more necessary — than learning to stop.

Rest is not weakness. It is worship.