Immerse: Beginnings Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 122
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IMMERSE
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BEGINNINGS
16:16-35
These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much
as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.”
So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some
only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough.
Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered
only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.
Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” But some
of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was
full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.
After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had
not picked up melted and disappeared. On the sixth day, they gathered
twice as much as usual—four quarts for each person instead of two. Then
all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation. He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will
be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord.
So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for
tomorrow.”
So they put some aside until morning, just as Moses had commanded.
And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without
maggots or odor. Moses said, “Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath
day dedicated to the Lord. There will be no food on the ground today.
You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath.
There will be no food on the ground that day.”
Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found
no food. The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to
obey my commands and instructions? They must realize that the Sabbath
is the Lord’s gift to you. That is why he gives you a t wo-day supply on the
sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you
must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh
day.” So the people did not gather any food on the seventh day.
The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed,
and it tasted like honey wafers.
Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: Fill a t wo-
quart container with manna to preserve it for your descendants. Then later
generations will be able to see the food I gave you in the wilderness when
I set you free from Egypt.”
Moses said to Aaron, “Get a jar and fill it with two quarts of manna.
Then put it in a sacred place before the Lord to preserve it for all future generations.” Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
He eventually placed it in the Ark of the Covenant—in front of the stone
tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. So the people of Israel