Human Beings, Not Human Doings

What a blessing it was to gather with the saints yesterday. We were able to sing together, pray together, give together and hear the Word of God preached. Our Senior Pastor, Zad, exhorted us in the meaning of rest for God’s people. We are thankful for The Word of God, by His Spirit, stirring us to good works, and truth to be applied to our lives. By way of introduction, our focus text came at the end of Exodus 16. God has delivered His people from Egypt, and He met their physical needs of water and food.  He also teaches His people that He will provide daily bread, manna, each morning save one. The seventh day, God commanded His people to rest. The Israelites were to gather two portions on day six, and to rest on the seventh day. Now, as we often do, some of the people gathered more than what was needed, and the bread rotted. Some went out to gather on the seventh day and found no manna – just as God had said. This leads us to the parallel of our Christian walk and our topic. Although we are not dependent on going out and gathering physical manna each day in the same way the Israelites did, we do need God’s daily sustenance. 

Adrian Rogers, one of the great literary masters of our time, once said, “You are Human Beings, not Human Doings.” Showcasing for us that our identity in God is not performance based. Our worth and identity come from who we are in God’s grace, not from how much we can gather and accomplish. 

There is a prevailing question that often comes up when talking about God’s provision: “If God alone provides, what is my responsibility?” This is an important question when talking about our work and rest as a disciple of Christ. Certainly the following is not an exhaustive list, but let’s look at four practical applications and truths about our responsibility in light of The Provider and His Word. 

I. I Am to Gather and Trust Him to Provide

Israel was not able to generate manna. This was God’s provision in action to His people. They did have a responsibility to receive and gather it. Christ would teach His disciples to pray for this daily provision from God, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt 6:11)

Matthew Henry said this of God’s provision, “Thus God kept them in a constant dependence upon His providence.” If we are daily depending on His provision, we will not live to a “store” of our own. This prevents us from having pride in our provision. Each day we see those fresh mercies as an act of God’s unmerited grace. 

What is the discipleship application here? Seek Christ daily through communion with God, not just occasionally. This begins by trusting in HIs Word and not instruction from the world. When we do that, we will depend on His ever present grace. 

II. I Am to Obey God’s Instruction and Trust Him to Do the Things He Alone Can Do

The Israelites were to gather two portions of manna on the sixth day, leading to a provision of food on the seventh day when they were to rest. This showed that obedience brought the blessing of God to preserve the manna to day seven. The same manna that we saw point on other days was kept when God’s people obeyed his instruction. God demonstrated that he is not only in provision making, but preserving. 

“Israel must gather, yet the gift was wholly of grace.” – AW Pink

Jesus would teach this very thing in Matthew 6: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” 

God commanded when to gather, and how much, to sustain for the solemn day of rest. When the children of Israel obeyed His Word, His preservation was the outcome. It was not in Israel’s efforts, but in God’s faithfulness. 

What is the discipleship application here? We are responsible to being obedient to His Word, not in generating outcomes. We are to be obedient and available and to trust Him to add and preserve. 

III. I Am to Trust the Provider When He Says to Rest 

Some of the children of Israel still went out to gather on the seventh day, even though God had commanded rest. Kent Hughes summarizes that God’s children can trust in the father’s care. Egypt was not Israels home, as God’s people were in bondage and slavery. They could not cease work because of cruel task masters. A son can rest when the Father says rest. Those who went out to gather on the seventh day were showing that they did not fully trust in God’s provision or His Word. In this, God would teach His people that efforts given, even in diligence, are still a lack of faith. 

“The miracle showed that preservation comes from promise, not process.” – Phil Ryken

Jesus calls us to come and see the graciousness of rest in HIm. “27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

“Obedience is not bondage — it is the path to blessing.” – Adrian Rogers

What is the discipleship application here? Resting in Christ is not idleness. When we trust His finished work, seek Him in prayer to provide in only the way He can, and to work in us confidence on the journey – we are resting. 

IV. I Am to Remember 

Manna would be placed in the Ark of the Covenant, the testimony, of God’s presence and faithfulness to His people. God is good to give us reminders of His faithfulness. When we become forgetful, we will become fearful. And God has not given us a spirit of fear, “but of power and love and self control.” When we reflect, and remember God’s provision, it will lead us to trust. Christ did the same for us when He instituted the Lord’s Supper. “Do this in remembrance of me.” By taking the elements, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ, His body and blood that was given as sacrifice for lost sinners to be redeemed. 

Closing Thoughts

What is the disciple’s response to the truth from God’s Word?

As the old song “Haven of Rest” gives us a call action, “I’ve anchored my soul to the haven of rest, I’ll sail the wide seas no more; the tempest may sweep o’er the wild stormy deep, but in Jesus I’m safe evermore.”