God's Special Test of Israel

UNION GROVE CHURCH OF CHRIST, CLEVELAND TN.

GOD’S SPECIAL TESTS OF ISRAEL

Life is filled with tests or trials of our faith. Peter wrote of the trial of Christians’ faith: "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter. 1:7). In James 1:2,3 it is written, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations [trials, NKJV]; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."

Though they lived under the Law of Moses and not the law of the Christ, the children of Israel of the Old Testament era also had their faith tested. Sometimes their faith was tested by the difficulties of life that they faced. Sometimes their faith was tested by the pull or influence of the immoral nations around them. In addition, there were also special tests of their faith that were "built-into" the instructions that Jehovah gave them. We want to point out four such challenges or trials of the faith and commitment of the Israelites. We understand that none of these apply directly to Christians because Jesus abolished the old law (Ephesians 2;14-16). But, at the same time we know that the message of the Old Testament was written for our learning (Romans 15:4). Consider these four special tests that God gave Israel:

1. Manna Collection – ". . . on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt," the children of Israel murmured against Moses, Aaron, and the Lord because they were hungry (Exodus 16:1,2,7). As a result, God began to give them manna. Hear how He described it: "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no" (Exodus 16:4). Notice that God planned to use manna to "prove"or test the nation of Israel. How long did this testing last? "And 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" (Exodus 16:40).

What was there about the way Jehovah told Israel to collect the manna that would have been a test of their faith? First, each week from day one through day five they were supposed to gather enough for their families to eat for just one day. In the beginning the temptation would have been to have gathered a whole bunch, enough to store up for days to come. After all, who could guarantee that God would give them fresh manna the next day? What happened, though? If they gathered too much food and did not eat it in one day’s time, the food spoiled (Exodus 16:16-21). What Israel had to learn was that God would provide for their needs if they would just obey what He told them to do. Remember, God is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9), and if He makes a promise, He will keep it.

A second faith-testing aspect of Israel’s collection of manna came each week on day six. On that day they were to gather enough manna for two days – for both day six and the sabbath (Exodus 16:22-26). But, wait a minute. Didn’t Jehovah say not to leave any manna for the next day? He sure did (Exodus 16:19), but that was for days one through five. How can we be sure, then, that if we do collect a double amount of manna on day six like God said, that it will not be spoiled by day seven? Here was the test for Israel’s faith: do what God said. Precisely follow His instructions about manna every day. If there are different instructions to be carried out on different days, then do exactly what He said.

2. The Sabbath Day – The fourth of the Ten Commandments that God gave to Israel was, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all they work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work . . ." (Exodus 20:8-10). But what about those crops that could be harvested on the sabbath? If the Israelites did not work on Saturday, the weather could turn bad and those crops out there could be ruined. Wouldn’t it be acceptable to take advantage of the good weather and get the needed work done on the sabbath? God said, "Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing [plowing, ASV] time and in harvest thou shalt rest" (Exodus 34:21). What a great challenge to Israel’s faith! God wanted them to put their unwavering trust in Him, even when, from a human standpoint, it may have looked like working in the fields made more sense than taking a day off.

3. The "Sabbath Year" – God told Israel, "Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, not prune thy vineyard" (Leviticus 25:3,4; cf. Exodus 23:10,11). But, Lord, how are we going to have enough food to survive if we cannot plant our crops every seventh year, won’t we starve to death? A: "God will provide" (Genesis 22:8). Wait a minute, if we cannot plant in year seven, then that means we not only will not have any new crops that year, but we will have to wait until harvest time in year 8 before we have any fresh crops. That’s right! God would provide – His providential care would give the Isrealite people all that they needed, but they must trust in Him to receive His blessings. What a test!

4. The Annual Feasts – Three times each year Jewish males were required to come before the Lord and attend the feasts which He established, and they had to do it in the place which He designated (Exodus 23; Levicitus 23; Deuteronomy 16). How would this involve a test of their faith? When they traveled to Jerusalem for those annual feasts, out of necessity they had to leave behind their homes, lands, livestock, and on at least some occasions, part or all of their families. Quite simply, these all could become "easy pickings" for the nations that lived round about them. Through the course of time those neighboring peoples would surely learn when the Israelites would be away from home and their possessions would be an easy prey for them. But, again, not to worry. God would provide for His children. Consider the following analysis of this situation:

There were three annual events which the male Jew was required to attend. The Lord said: ‘Three times you shall keep a feast unto me in the year’ (Exodus 23:14). The three feasts are listed in the subsequent context. They were: the feast of unleavened bread – associated with the Passover (15), the feast of harvest (i.e., firstfruits – Pentecost), and the feast of ingathering at the end of the year (16), known also as the feast of Tabernacles. The regulations involved in this injunction were several. (a) They involved all male Jews (17). (b) The feasts were three in number (14,17). (c) The Hebrew males were to come ‘before the Lord Jehovah’ (cf. 34:23), suggesting a designated sancturay in the future (cf. Deuteronomy 16:16). Eventually, Jerusalem was the appointed place. (d) No one was to ‘appear before [the Lord] empty’ (15), meaning that every man was to ‘give as he is able’ (Deuteronomy 16:17).

This circumstance, however, rasises a problem. Would not the Hebrews, living in the midst of hostile tribes, be quite vulnerable during these three annual journeys to Jerusalem? What would be the fate of their families, etc.? Turn to Exodus 34:24 and read the Lord’s promise of providential protection. ‘For I will cast out nations before you, and enlarge your borders: neither shall any man desire your land, when you go up [to Jerusalem] to appear before Jehovah your God three times in the year.’ There is absolutely no way to explain this phenomenon apart from the fact that God was orchestrating the affair. [Wayne Jackson, Notes from the Margin of My Bible, Vol. I, p. 11].

God tested the faith and submission of the children of Israel with His laws about manna, the sabbath day, the sabbath year, and their annual feasts. "That is all well and good, but Christians are not commanded to keep any of those, so none of those serve as a test to our faith." True, but there are some eternal lessons that we need to learn from all of this:

Follow orders – do what God says, every time.

Trust in God with all the heart. He will provide for us (Matthew 6:33).

Be thankful to God for what we have and for the privilege of serving Him.

Brothers and sisters, our faith will be tested. It will be tested at home, at school, at work, when dealing with the lost, even in our dealings with other Christians. When we have to make important choices in our daily lives – whom to marry, job selection, where to live, and so many others – let us remember the special tests that God gave to Israel and never forget that when they put Him first and did His will, He took care of them. He will do the same with us, as He continues to bless His righteous children.

-- Roger D. Campbell