ELM - Coming Up Empty

“‘Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.’ Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none” Exodus 16:26-27.

If any of you feel too busy…too exhausted…too discouraged…too anything I give you the story of the children of Israel. They were rescued from slavery and began a new life in the favor of God. He heard their cries, delivered them from oppression and liberated them from their despair. He developed a way to feed them, but gave them specific instructions on how to gather the food. The children were directed to gather the provision daily, with the command to garner a double portion on the 6th day. God gave them specific instructions to resist gathering on the 7th day, for His 6th day provision would be enough to carry them through their 7th day needs. 
 

What was the motivation of God prohibiting the 7th day gathering? I believe it was to show there would be times when we couldn’t generate a certain provision on our own. It would be a season where no matter how we reach out…what we attempt to accomplish… what outcome we try to manipulate …we will come up empty just like those Israelites who wandered around looking to gather 7th day provision. I believe the other motivation of God was to show the importance of trusting and resting in Him during the empty seasons. What if we are in a season that God meant for rest…our spiritual Sabbath…but instead of resting our focus is producing, achieving and striving? Could it be that our only obligation in the 7th day season is trusting in the 6th day provision? Priscilla Shirer, author of Breathe, writes: ‘What if we are so busy trying to gather our own manna that we don’t even recognize or acknowledge the 6th day manna that God has provided? We must be confident that He is the God of the 6th day', p 41.

If you find yourself in a season where something is lacking…hope in light of a diagnosis…peace because of a rebellious child…love and companionship because of a departed loved one…please take comfort in our God of the 6th day. He has given us everything we need in advance to walk out our 7th day, but it is in Him alone. If we go searching for comforts apart from Him we will come up empty just like the Israelites did. We must be thankful for our 6th day provision, and confident in His 7th day impartation. Whatever you lack in this season God has already set it aside in a previous season. Just reach out and gather from the One who is gathering you.