By Kyle Beshears
Instructor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
Sufficient
Exodus 16:1–5, 11–20
Questioning the Future (1–3)
My oh my, what a difference a month and a half makes. About 40 days earlier, Israel was redeemed from slavery in a spectacular episode of God’s amazing power. Even though Israel expressed praise their trust in God’s goodness apparently expired after a matter of weeks. Upon reaching a point of severe hunger in the wilderness the Israelites grumbled so much that they actually wished they could return to slavery.
This scene, I confess, is eerily familiar to my life. So often I find myself basking in the gracious provision and blessing of the Lord only to mistrust Him days later. Do you find yourself there? If so, perhaps you could curb your doubt by journaling the times that God has blessed you. Then in times of doubt revisit that journal to remember all that He has done. It’ll help lead you away from grumbling and into praise.
Questioning Their Obedience (4–5, 11–12)
God is patient and gracious. Without a hint of anger, the Lord meets the needs of His people before Moses has a chance to bring Israel’s faithless complaint to Him. In doing so, God devises a test to determine how Israel would fare after He gives them the law and asks for their obedience to His good and perfect will (Ex. 16:4). The test was simple. God would miraculously provide bread (or manna) in the wilderness to satisfy their hunger, but He would only do so on a daily basis (double on the day before the Sabbath). God satisfied them in the short term but was asking them to trust Him in the long term by recognizing their dependence on Him and His consistent faithfulness to bless them. Indeed, God was asking them to trust Him anew every day, to pray to the Lord for their “daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). We too are asked by God to trust Him every day for our provision, purpose and strength. Do you daily trust in Him?
Questioning the Provision (13–18)
The time came for God’s plan to serve His people by blessing them. He is a God who gives out of compassion. Israel’s complaints, however loud, were drowned in God’s compassionate grace. What a beautiful picture.
There have been many times in my life when God has met my complaints with grace. Were it not for the Holy Spirit bringing me to a sobering realization that God had answered a prayer or met a need, I would have continued grumbling even while stuffing my mouth full of manna. Do you share my experience? If so, we are certainly not alone. God is patient as His Spirit sanctifies us. Reflecting on God’s provision and repenting from grumbling will quickly foil the enemy’s plans to rob the joy that comes from obedience to the Lord.
Questioning the Next Meal (19–20)
About 40 days after the Exodus, Israel failed the test of faithfulness that God had given them. In their failure, Israel learned the important lesson that “man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:3). If these words sound familiar, it is because Jesus quoted them when He became hungry in the wilderness after 40 days and was tempted by the enemy to be faithless (Matt. 4:2). Unlike Israel, however, the Lord Jesus remained faithful. Jesus is our greatest example of obedience.
When we are tempted to disobey the Lord, if we look to ourselves for strength we are destined to fail. However, if we look to Christ, who is ultimately faithful, we will find strength to succeed in His power and for His glory.
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