The photo shows the kind of load that may have been carried by the man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath day.
Today, focus is on conditions for a relationship with divinity by promise, rather than by the authority, manufacture, and ownership of GOD. The existence and continuation of the living are accomplished through multiple divine mechanisms, operations and procedures that are fixed and unchanging. Included are aspects of the divine makeup as well as aspects of the flesh. Examples are forbearance, humility, judgment, obedience, the imparting of spirit content from GOD, praise, proclamation, promise, and prophecy. The Sabbath comes into view as an institution established by GOD for the completion and enrichment of Creation, and is a divine tool (we say, sign) that authenticates covenant, divine law, and sacred practice. The Sabbath does not interrupt or suspend the frameworks of time and space, and does not accomplish the godly purposes found with death and sleep. Even so, the Sabbath appears as a consciousness that is continuous and ever-present through the devices of family lineage and inheritance. The Sabbath fosters sacred fellowship, promotes acquisition of sacred knowledge, and serves as a signature and mark of divine completion, fulfillment, possession, remembrance, refreshing, renewal, and rest. The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “Umeka” (Level 1 with 85 points, a member since September 12, 2017) posted the following:
How do you explain exodus 31:12-18?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. (Exodus 31: 12-18, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Deeds Of The Law? (09/10/2017); Acknowledging the Divine Presence (02/22/2017); A Divine Day Off? (02/15/2016); The 8th Day? (11/01/2015); Sabbath, Power, and Rest? (07/17/2015); To Keep It Holy (02/22/2014); 7 “Godly” Sins? (02/23/2014); About Sabbath (10/16/2013); We Shall Behold Him (10/17/2013)
“Umeka”, the verses you ask about proclaim the terms for a perpetual and unbreakable covenant relationship with GOD. When the Patriarch Jacob ran from home to escape the anger of his brother Esau, whom he had cheated out of his birthright and the blessing of family inheritance from GOD, Jacob traveled back to the birthplace and home of his mother to hide there. Overnight, as he was sleeping with his head on a stone used for a pillow, he had a prophetic dream where he saw angels going up and down a ladder. When he awakened he was terrified that he had stumbled into a holy place. He offered a prayer to “the God of his father, Isaac (also the God of Abraham), saying in effect, “if you save my life, protect me, and help me to return home as a success, I will accept you as my GOD the same way they did.” In this sense, Jacob was like many of us, who have grown up around the things from GOD handed down since Adam, and was receiving the blessing of those having a divine priesthood as their family inheritance, yet, he did not seek his own (nor we our own) relationship with GOD until there was a crisis, and a need for immediate deliverance and rescue from danger.
In this, Moses was like Jacob: Moses approached the burning bush from curiosity, not belief and faith. The Egyptian people belonged to their king after selling their land, their livestock, and themselves to Pharaoh to survive a devastating famine. Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt had no hold on the family of Joseph and those who were the heirs of Abraham and Isaac. Yet, they continued seeking the benefits of fitting in among the Egyptians. Moses was sent to the Hebrews to call them out of Egypt; and GOD began to pour out upon the Egyptians his judgments against worship of false gods, idolatry and spiritual confusion. Those who left Egypt with Moses knew that GOD had blessed Abraham and Jacob, yet, had not begun to proclaim their acceptance of him as their own sovereign GOD.
The things that GOD spoke to Moses in private were openly shared with all the people at Mount Sinai, who fled from the destruction that came upon Pharaoh. First (see Exodus 20), every man, woman, and even small babies heard the voice of GOD speaking his requirements for covenant relationship. Later (see Exodus 31), they were given the divine law written with the finger of GOD on tables of stone. On the day they assembled at Sinai, the people became so afraid, they begged that GOD would never speak to mankind on the earth that way again; and they agreed to answer Moses and the other agents, prophets, and spokespersons (e.g., apostles, judges, kings, their caretakers and parents) he would send.
There is far more that should be considered and properly understood. (For example, once their crisis and state of emergency are passed, men often become complacent, bold, overly self-reliant, and defiant of GOD. Perhaps, this is why an irreversible death sentence was placed upon Adam and his offspring that continues within divine law and sacred covenants as sanctions, and the expression of divine wrath against sin. The covenant of Moses continues the necessary life-and-death urgency experienced in Jacob. It is written: Numbers 15: 29-33, King James Version (KJV): 29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. 30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. 32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. 34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. 35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. 36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. 33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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