Exodus 16:28

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

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

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

Then the LORD said to Moses, โ€œHow long will you refuse to keep My commandments and instructions?

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

Commentary

Exodus 16:28 KJV captures a pivotal moment of divine exasperation with the Israelites during their wilderness journey. After miraculously providing manna and quails, God had established clear instructions for gathering the manna, especially concerning the Sabbath day. Despite these explicit commands, some Israelites went out to gather on the Sabbath, finding none. The LORD's words to Moses here are a direct rebuke of this disobedience.

Context

This verse occurs shortly after God begins providing manna in the wilderness, a miraculous daily provision to sustain the Israelites after their deliverance from Egypt. God's instructions were specific: gather only enough for one day, but on the sixth day, gather a double portion to last through the Sabbath, as no manna would appear on the seventh day (Exodus 16:4, Exodus 16:5). This was a test of their obedience and trust. However, some chose to disregard these instructions, attempting to gather on the Sabbath, only to find no manna. The LORD's words to Moses here are a direct rebuke of this disobedience, highlighting a pattern of rebellion that would unfortunately characterize much of Israel's wilderness experience even before the formal giving of the Ten Commandments.

Key Themes

  • Disobedience and Rebellion: The central theme is the Israelites' persistent refusal to follow God's clear commands, even when those commands were accompanied by miraculous provision. This highlights a fundamental challenge in the human-divine relationship.
  • God's Patience and Frustration: The phrase "How long refuse ye" expresses divine exasperation. It signifies God's weariness with their stubbornness and lack of trust, even as He continued to provide for them. This same lament is echoed later in the wilderness narrative (Numbers 14:11).
  • The Importance of God's Law: Even before the formal giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, God was establishing principles of obedience, particularly regarding the Sabbath. This incident underscores that God's laws are meant to be kept, not merely acknowledged.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "How long" (ืขึทื“ึพืžึธืชึทื™, 'ad-matay) is not merely a question but conveys a strong sense of weariness, impatience, and even lament. It reflects God's deep disappointment with the people's consistent failure to heed His instructions, despite His abundant provision and clear communication. It's a rhetorical question expressing divine exasperation at their continued defiance.

Practical Application

Exodus 16:28 serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of obedience and trust in God's word. Just as the Israelites struggled to obey simple instructions, we too can find ourselves resistant to God's commands, perhaps questioning His wisdom or doubting His provision. This verse challenges us to:

  • Trust God's Wisdom: God's commands, like the Sabbath instruction, are for our good, even if their immediate purpose isn't fully clear to us.
  • Cultivate Obedience: True faith is demonstrated not just by belief, but by a willingness to obey God's revealed will. Our obedience reflects our love for Him (John 14:15).
  • Recognize God's Patience: Despite our failures, God remains patient and willing to lead us. However, His patience is not an excuse for continued disobedience.

The incident with the manna and the Sabbath foreshadows the broader covenant relationship God sought with Israel, predicated on their willingness to obey His voice and keep His covenant.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 78:10

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

  • Psalms 106:13

    ยถ 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

    ยถ 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?
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