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the day must be gathered in the morning； for all that remained upon the
ground was melted by the sun。
In the gathering of the manna it was found that some obtained more and some
less than the stipulated amount； but 〃when they did mete it with an omer； he
that gathered much had nothing over； and he that gathered little had no
lack。〃 An explanation of this scripture； as well as a practical lesson from
it； is given by the apostle Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthians。
He says； 〃I mean not that other men be eased； and ye burdened： but by an
equality； that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their
want； that their abundance also may be a supply for your want： that there
may be equality： as it is written； He that had gathered much had nothing
over； and he that had gathered little had no lack。〃 2 Corinthians 8：13…15。
On the sixth day the people gathered two omers for every person。 The rulers
hastened to acquaint Moses with what had been done。 His answer was； 〃This is
that which the Lord hath
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said； Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord： bake that
which ye will bake today； and seethe that ye will seethe； and that which
remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning。〃 They did so；
and found that it remained unchanged。 〃And Moses said； Eat that today； for
today is a Sabbath unto the Lord： today ye shall not find it in the field。
Six days ye shall gather it； but on the seventh day； which is the Sabbath；
in it there shall be none。〃
God requires that His holy day be as sacredly observed now as in the time of
Israel。 The command given to the Hebrews should be regarded by all
Christians as an injunction from Jehovah to them。 The day before the Sabbath
should be made a day of preparation； that everything may be in readiness for
its sacred hours。 In no case should our own business be allowed to encroach
upon holy time。 God has directed that the sick and suffering be cared for；
the labor required to make them comfortable is a work of mercy； and no
violation of the Sabbath； but all unnecessary work should be avoided。 Many
carelessly put off till the beginning of the Sabbath little things that
might have been done on the day of preparation。 This should not be。 Work
that is neglected until the beginning of the Sabbath should remain undone
until it is past。 This course might help the memory of these thoughtless
ones； and make them careful to do their own work on the six working days。
Every week during their long sojourn in the wilderness the Israelites
witnessed a threefold miracle； designed to impress their minds with the
sacredness of the Sabbath： a double quantity of manna fell on the sixth day；
none on the seventh； and the portion needed for the Sabbath was preserved
sweet and pure； when if any were kept over at any other time it became unfit
for use。
In the circumstances connected with the giving of the manna； we have
conclusive evidence that the Sabbath was not instituted； as many claim； when
the law was given at Sinai。 Before the Israelites came to Sinai they
understood the Sabbath to be obligatory upon them。 In being obliged to
gather every Friday a double portion of manna in preparation for the
Sabbath； when none would fall； the sacred nature of the day of rest was
continually impressed upon them。 And when some of the people
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went out on the Sabbath to gather manna； the Lord asked； 〃How long refuse ye
to keep My commandments and My laws？〃
〃The children of Israel did eat manna forty years； until they came to a land
inhabited： they did eat manna； until they came unto the borders of the land
of Canaan。〃 For forty years they were daily reminded by this miraculous
provision； of God's unfailing care and tender love。 In the words of the
psalmist； God gave them 〃of the corn of heaven。 Man did eat angels' food〃
（Psalm 78：24； 25）that is； food provided for them by the angels。 Sustained
by 〃the corn of heaven；〃 they were daily taught that； having God's promise；
they were as secure from want as if surrounded by fields of waving grain on
the fertile plains of Canaan。
The manna； falling from heaven for the sustenance of Israel； was a type of
Him who came from God to give life to the world。 Said Jesus； 〃I am that
Bread of life。 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness； and are dead。
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven。 。 。 。 If any man eat of
this bread； he shall live forever： and the bread that I will give is My
flesh； which I will give for the life of the world。〃 John 6：48…51。 And among
the promises of blessing to God's people in the future life it is written；
〃To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna。〃 Revelation
2：17。
After leaving the wilderness of Sin； the Israelites encamped in Rephidim。
Here there was no water； and again they distrusted the providence of God。 In
their blindness and presumption the people came to Moses with the demand；
〃Give us water that we may drink。〃 But his patience failed not。 〃Why chide
ye with me？〃 he said； 〃wherefore do ye tempt the Lord？〃 They cried in anger；
〃Wherefore is this； that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt； to kill us
and our children and our cattle with thirst？〃 When they had been so
abundantly supplied with food； they remembered with shame their unbelief and
murmurings； and promised to trust the Lord in the future； but they soon
forgot their promise； and failed at the first trial of their faith。 The
pillar of cloud that was leading them seemed to veil a fearful mystery。 And
Moseswho was he？ they questioned； and what could be his object in bringing
them from Egypt？ Suspicion and distrust filled their hearts； and they boldly
accused him of designing to kill them and their children by
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privations and hardships that he might enrich himself with their
possessions。 In the tumult of rage and indignation they were about to stone
him。
In distress Moses cried to the Lord； 〃What shall I do unto this people？〃 He
was directed to take the elders of Israel and the rod wherewith he had
wrought wonders in Egypt； and to go on before the people。 And the Lord said
unto him； 〃Behold； I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb；
and thou shalt smite the rock； and there shall come water out of it； that
the people may drink。〃 He obeyed； and the waters burst forth in a living
stream that abundantly supplied the encampment。 Instead of commanding Moses
to lift up his rod and call down some terrible plague； like those on Egypt；
upon the leaders in this wicked murmuring； the Lord in His great mercy made
the rod His instrument to work their deliverance。
〃He clave the rocks in the wilderness； and gave them drink as out of the
great depths。 He brought streams also out of the rock； and caused waters to
run down like rivers。〃 Psalm 78：15； 16。 Moses smote the rock； but it was the
Son of God who； veiled in the cloudy pillar； stood beside Moses； and caused
the life…giving water to flow。 Not only Moses and the elders； but all the
congregation who stood at a distance； beheld the glory of the Lord； but had
the cloud been removed； they would