Open Heart Report
I was speaking to my father about the Will of God, and somehow we got on the topic of the Sabbath and I informed my dad that I wanted to start observing Sabbath at the beginning of the week, to this my dad told me that this was in fact what is required of us by the Spirit of Prophecy. I then began to wonder if there was a correlation between weekly prep for Sabbath and a lifetime prep for salvation. I began searching for parallels, and to my surprise, they were everywhere. As I studied the Children of Israel, I began to see the sacredness given to the Day of Preparation. Sister White speaks of how we should prepare.
“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” p.296 PP.
This I already knew, but something was missing, something more spiritual, I continued to search and Sister White aided me,
“How we prepare for the Sabbath in turn shows our children how to prepare “Teach your children that the commandments of God must become the rule of their lives. Circumstances may occur to separate the children from their parents and from their home, but the lessons of instruction given in childhood and youth will be a blessing to them throughout their lifetime.” {LUH, April 14, 1909 par. 6}
Getting warmer, but not “it”, so I continued.
"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. PP. p26.
Manna of course! That’s what I was looking for…
“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”. “The life-giving Spirit, flowing from the infinite fullness of God, is the true manna. Jesus said, "The bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world." John 6:33, R. V. {DA 385.5}
This point stayed in my mind, dad told me not to get too hung up on the details lest I get off track, but this point kept nagging me. There was something about the manna. My uncle called me with some help, we began probing and I realized that if the manna represented Jesus and His Spirit, then on Friday (Day of Preparation) a double portion fell WOW, this was great info to me. I rejoiced in the light that was shown. I don’t know this to be 100% fact but it sure feels like it to me. As the sun slowly dips behind the horizon, anticipation builds, the words of the hymn “The King is coming, the King is coming, I just heard the trumpet sounding, and now His face I see…” What a beautiful time my family enjoys getting ready to meet our King every week, I pray that as I study more God may open more to me in order to continue to pass His blessing to them. I encourage all of us to look a little closer at this little time of preparation because it shows us also that we have but a little time here. I want to live my whole life to hear to words… “Well Done”.
