Exodus 16:28

KJV

And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?

KJV (with Strong's)

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto Moses {H4872}, How long refuse {H3985} ye to keep {H8104} my commandments {H4687} and my laws {H8451}?

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI said to Moshe, "How long will you refuse to observe my mitzvot and teachings?

Berean Standard Bible

Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and instructions?

American Standard Version

And Jehovah said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 16:28 captures a moment of profound divine exasperation as the LORD confronts Moses regarding Israel's persistent disobedience. Despite God's miraculous provision of manna and clear instructions for its gathering—specifically the command to rest and not gather on the Sabbath—a segment of the Israelites willfully defied these directives. This verse serves as a sharp rebuke, highlighting the nascent nation's struggle with trust and obedience even before the formal giving of the Law at Sinai, setting a somber tone for their wilderness journey and underscoring the enduring challenge of human rebellion against divine authority.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the narrative of God's miraculous provision for Israel in the wilderness, specifically the giving of manna and quails, which commences in [Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna and Quail"). Following their dramatic [deliverance from Egyptian bondage](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - Crossing the Red Sea"), the Israelites quickly began to grumble about the lack of food. In response, God promised to rain bread from heaven, establishing specific daily instructions: gather only what is needed for one day, but on the sixth day, gather a double portion, as no manna would appear on the seventh day, the Sabbath ([Exodus 16:4-5](/exodus/16-4-5 "Exodus 16:4-5 - Manna Instructions and Sabbath Command")). This divine provision was explicitly presented as a test of their obedience ([Exodus 16:4](/exodus/16-4 "Exodus 16:4 - A Test of Obedience")). Despite these clear commands and the visible miracle of the manna, some Israelites disregarded the Sabbath instruction, going out to gather on the seventh day only to find none ([Exodus 16:27](/exodus/16-27 "Exodus 16:27 - Disobedience on the Sabbath")). The LORD's frustrated question to Moses in verse 28 is a direct and poignant response to this specific act of defiance, underscoring the immediate failure of the people to heed God's word, even when their very sustenance depended on it. This incident foreshadows the broader pattern of Israel's rebellion throughout the wilderness journey, culminating in the formal covenant at Sinai where obedience to God's law becomes paramount.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites, recently freed from centuries of brutal slavery in Egypt, were transitioning from a life of forced labor to a covenant relationship with a holy God. Their former existence offered no concept of a regular day of rest, making the Sabbath command a revolutionary and counter-cultural principle. This early instruction regarding the Sabbath, preceding the formal giving of the Ten Commandments at [Mount Sinai](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - Arrival at Mount Sinai"), served as a foundational lesson in trust and divine order. God was not merely providing food; He was establishing a rhythm of life centered on His provision and His commands. The wilderness itself was a stark, barren environment, forcing the Israelites into absolute dependence on God for their daily bread. Their refusal to keep the Sabbath, despite the clear miracle of the manna and the double portion on the sixth day, reveals a deep-seated lack of trust and a stubborn inclination towards self-reliance or doubt. This behavior was not merely a logistical error but a spiritual rebellion against the very God who had delivered them and was now sustaining them. It highlights the profound challenge of cultivating faith and obedience in a people accustomed to a different way of life and still grappling with the implications of their new freedom and divine covenant.
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 16:28 significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Exodus and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Provision and Testing**. God demonstrates His faithfulness by miraculously providing for His people, but this provision also serves as a test of their obedience and trust, as seen in [Exodus 16:4](/exodus/16-4 "Exodus 16:4 - A Test of Obedience"). Secondly, the verse underscores the theme of **Human Stubbornness and Disobedience**. Despite clear commands and miraculous evidence of God's power, the Israelites quickly fall into a pattern of rebellion, foreshadowing their repeated failures throughout the wilderness narrative, such as the incident of the golden calf in [Exodus 32](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf"). Thirdly, it introduces the critical theme of **The Importance of God's Law and Sabbath Observance**. Even before the formal promulgation of the Mosaic Law, God begins to establish principles of divine order, with the Sabbath as a foundational element, emphasizing the need for rest, trust, and sanctification in their relationship with Him. This incident sets the stage for the formal covenant at Sinai, where obedience to God's "commandments and laws" becomes the defining characteristic of Israel's identity as God's chosen people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From הָיָה, meaning "the self-Existent or Eternal." This is the covenant name of God, Jehovah, the Jewish national name of God, emphasizing His eternal, unchanging nature and His active presence in the covenant relationship with Israel. The use of this name here underscores the personal and authoritative nature of the divine rebuke.
* **refuse (Hebrew, _mâʼên'_):** A primitive root meaning "to refuse" or "utterly." This verb signifies a deliberate and willful rejection, not merely a failure to understand or an accidental oversight. It highlights the volitional aspect of Israel's disobedience, emphasizing their conscious choice to disregard God's word despite His clear communication and miraculous provision. It conveys a stubborn, active unwillingness to comply.
* **commandments (Hebrew, _mitsvâh'_):** From צָוָה, meaning "a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law); (which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept." This term refers to specific divine directives and authoritative instructions. The plural form, alongside "my laws," indicates that God had already begun to issue multiple expectations and principles governing Israel's life, with the Sabbath manna instruction being a significant early example of God's precepts for His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the LORD said unto Moses,"**: This opening clause establishes the divine origin and supreme authority of the statement. It indicates a direct, personal communication from God (Yahweh) to His chosen leader, Moses, underscoring the gravity and importance of the message that follows. It highlights God's active involvement and direct oversight of His people's conduct, emphasizing that their disobedience is a direct affront to Him.
* **"How long refuse ye"**: This is the core of God's emotional outpouring. "How long" (Hebrew, _'ad-matay'_) is a rhetorical question conveying profound exasperation, weariness, and lament. It is not seeking information but expressing divine disappointment over a persistent pattern of behavior. The verb "refuse" (Hebrew, _mâʼên'_) signifies a willful, deliberate, and stubborn rejection. This phrase captures God's weariness with Israel's persistent and conscious defiance, implying a recurring pattern of resistance to His will rather than a singular lapse.
* **"to keep my commandments and my laws?"**: This concluding phrase specifies the object of their refusal. "To keep" implies active obedience, adherence, and preservation of the divine instructions. The "commandments and my laws" refer to the specific directives God had already given, particularly concerning the manna and the Sabbath. This question underscores God's expectation of obedience from His covenant people and their failure to meet that expectation, even concerning simple, life-sustaining instructions that were clearly for their benefit and designed to cultivate trust.

#### Literary Devices
The verse powerfully employs **Rhetorical Question** to convey divine emotion rather than to elicit information. The question "How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?" is not asked because God is unaware of the answer, but because it expresses His profound exasperation, disappointment, and weariness with Israel's persistent disobedience. This rhetorical device amplifies the emotional weight of God's statement, forcing the audience to confront the depth of His frustration. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like emotions (frustration, weariness, a sense of being "worn out") to God. This makes God's interaction with humanity relatable and emphasizes His personal investment in His relationship with Israel, showing that their actions genuinely affect Him. Finally, the verse highlights a **Pattern of Disobedience**, foreshadowing the recurring theme of Israel's rebellion throughout their wilderness journey and subsequent history, establishing a narrative motif of God's enduring patience contrasted with human stubbornness and unfaithfulness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 16:28 is a foundational text for understanding the nature of God's covenant with Israel, the importance of obedience, and the persistent challenge of human sinfulness. It reveals a God who is not only sovereign in His provision but also deeply invested in the moral and spiritual discipline of His people. The divine exasperation expressed here underscores that obedience is not merely about following rules, but about trust and a responsive relationship with the Giver of life. This early failure to keep a simple, beneficial command regarding the Sabbath foreshadows Israel's broader struggles with the Law, demonstrating that a mere external command, even with miraculous backing, is insufficient to change the human heart without a deeper transformation. It highlights the tension between God's perfect holiness and human imperfection, setting the stage for the need for a mediator and a new covenant.

* [Numbers 14:11](/numbers/14-11 "God's Lament Over Israel's Unbelief")
* [Deuteronomy 8:2-3](/deuteronomy/8-2-3 "God Tests Israel in the Wilderness")
* [1 Samuel 15:22](/1_samuel/15-22 "Obedience Better Than Sacrifice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 16:28 serves as a timeless mirror for humanity's struggle with obedience and trust in God. Just as the Israelites, despite miraculous daily provision, found themselves resistant to God's clear and beneficial commands, so too can we, in our abundance, subtly or overtly "refuse" to keep God's instructions. This verse challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we truly trust God's wisdom in His commands, even when they seem inconvenient or counter-intuitive to our desires? Our willingness to obey, even in seemingly small matters, is a profound indicator of our faith and love for God. It reminds us that God's patience, though vast, is not an excuse for ongoing defiance. Instead, it is an invitation to repentance and a renewed commitment to walk in His ways, recognizing that His commands are always for our ultimate good and flourishing, designed to draw us into deeper relationship and dependence upon Him. True freedom is found not in rejecting divine boundaries, but in embracing the life-giving path of obedience.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I, like the Israelites, find myself questioning or "refusing" God's clear commands or principles, perhaps doubting His wisdom or provision?**
* **How does my daily life reflect a trust in God's provision and a commitment to His "commandments and laws," even when they require sacrifice or inconvenience?**
* **What does God's expressed exasperation, coupled with His continued provision, teach me about His character and His desire for a genuine, obedient relationship with me?**

### FAQ

**Was this the first time God gave a command about the Sabbath?**

Answer: While the formal, detailed giving of the Ten Commandments, including the Fourth Commandment regarding the Sabbath, occurs later at [Mount Sinai in Exodus 20](/exodus/20 "Exodus 20 - The Ten Commandments"), the principle of a special day of rest was introduced and tested here in [Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna and Quail") in connection with the manna. God's instructions for gathering manna explicitly included a directive to gather a double portion on the sixth day and to rest on the seventh, as no manna would be provided. This incident demonstrates that God was establishing the concept of the Sabbath and testing Israel's obedience to this principle even before the full covenant was ratified. It served as a practical, daily lesson in trusting God's provision and honoring His designated day of rest, laying foundational principles for the Law to come.

**What does God's "exasperation" tell us about His character?**

Answer: God's exasperation in [Exodus 16:28](/exodus/16-28 "Exodus 16:28 - God's Exasperation") reveals several profound aspects of His character. Firstly, it shows that God is not a detached, emotionless deity but one who genuinely relates to His creation and experiences real disappointment when His people, whom He loves and provides for, willfully disobey Him. This anthropomorphic expression of frustration underscores His personal investment in the covenant relationship. Secondly, it highlights His holiness and justice; disobedience is not trivial to Him, as it undermines the very foundation of trust and order He seeks to establish. Thirdly, it reveals His immense patience. The "How long" implies a history of such behavior, yet He continues to provide and lead, demonstrating His steadfast love and long-suffering even in the face of human stubbornness. It's a divine lament, expressing the pain of a loving Father whose children refuse to walk in the path He has laid out for their good, yet He remains committed to their ultimate redemption.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 16:28, with its portrayal of Israel's failure to keep God's "commandments and laws" despite divine provision, finds its ultimate resolution and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Where Israel repeatedly "refused" to obey, Jesus perfectly embodied obedience, declaring, "I always do what pleases him" ([John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Pleases the Father")). He is the true and living manna, the "bread of life" who came down from heaven, not merely to sustain physical life for a day, but to give eternal life to those who believe ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")). The Sabbath command, partially understood and poorly kept by Israel, points to the ultimate rest found in Christ, who invites all who are weary and burdened to find rest in Him ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")). Through His perfect obedience, sacrificial death on the cross, and glorious resurrection, Jesus fulfills the law's demands ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")) and inaugurates a new covenant where God's laws are written not on stone tablets, but on the hearts of His people by the Holy Spirit, enabling true obedience and a genuine relationship rooted in grace, not just external command ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "The New Covenant")). Thus, the exasperation of God with a disobedient people finds its answer in the perfect Son, who reconciles humanity to God and empowers them to walk in His ways through the indwelling Spirit ([Romans 8:3-4](/romans/8-3-4 "The Law Fulfilled in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 78:10

They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

Psalms 106:13

¶ They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

Ezekiel 20:13

But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Numbers 14:11

¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

2 Kings 17:14

Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.

Psalms 78:22

Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:

Isaiah 7:13

And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; [Is it] a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?