Dear Family,
Today is Sabbath, May 6, 2023. It is Day 28; and, Day 7 of Week 4 in our Count to Pentecost.
According to the Hebrew calendar we have been using, today is also the 15th of Iyyar (the second month). This date is mentioned in Exodus 16:1 as the day on which the children of Israel entered the Wilderness of Sin.
Exodus 16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
During our Count to Pentecost, the Sabbath days are always going to be in multiples of 7 (7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 35th, 42nd and 49th). Of course, the calendar dates will vary.
We do not know that the children of Israel traveled on the Sabbath. They may have arrived in the wilderness on ANY day of the week. What we know is that they were following the cloud by day and were led, protected, and granted light at night by the pillar of fire.
Nehemiah 9:12 Moreover Thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
At the very beginning of their stay in the wilderness, the Sabbath became an issue for them. Israel also began to murmur against the leaders God had used to deliver them from Egypt. The Israelites ACCUSED them of a murderous motive.
Exodus 16:2-3 (2) And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: (3) And the children of Israel said unto them; Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
How absurd! Moses had not asked for the job, but God called him to it. Moses had not wanted the job, but God insisted. And, according to the New Testament writings, Moses was faithful, even in the face of lying accusations. Moses was suffering for doing right!
Hebrews 3:2, 5 (2) Who was faithful to Him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. (5) And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
May God bless us all to deal faithfully with the work God gives us to do and trust He knows what He is doing!
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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