The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Exodus 16:22-30, “Now it came about on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers (measures) for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses,

23 then he said to them, “This is what the LORD meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake, and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.”

24 So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul, nor was there any worm in it.

25 And Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field.

26 “Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the sabbath, there will be none.”

27 And it came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather, but they found none.

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

29 “See, the LORD has given you the sabbath; therefore, He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.”

30 So the people rested on the seventh day.”

Time had passed and Moses was now the leader in Israel. His words and his commandments came from the LORD; then, they were given to the people. Bear in mind that the early days of Moses were like a father to his children. Moses received a word from the LORD; then he passed that word on to the people.

The position of pastors today is not quite like that of Moses. Yet, they are leaders of their people, responsible for giving them the Word of God from the Bible and urging them to follow that Word without failure.

Parents are to listen carefully to the message from the Scriptures and advise their children just as their pastors have advised them. As in the day of Moses, some today listen carefully, some don’t.

I was reared to strictly follow the Day of the LORD. There was to be no buying or selling of anything on the LORD’s Day. Strangely, however, once Sunday evening services were completed, we often went to the ice cream parlor, where the boys behind the counter piled high on our cones as much as they would hold for a nickel. I guess we followed the “after the sun goes down” routine.

When I commenced preaching, I often would conclude one week’s meeting on Sunday morning and commence another at another church on Sunday night. That meant driving and sometimes purchasing gasoline on Sunday. I came to consider those who were “emergency” personnel: police, doctors, ambulances, etc. They often had to work on Sunday.

Ultimately, after studying the Scriptures more closely, I came to believe that the LORD does allow exceptions when they are true exceptions! That is the position I continue to hold today. Sunday ought to be set aside exclusively primarily for worship, prayer, and the study of Scripture. Our Sunday requirements necessitate others to work on Sundays.

What do you do on Sunday? Are you in church where Jesus Christ is uplifted and praised? Yes, times have changed; but has the LORD changed? Has He changed His basic directive relative to His Day? One Day we will stand before Him and give an account. Let’s just remember that.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom