SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 16
BIBLE VERSES:
“In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (Exodus 16:2-3)
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.” (Exodus 16:4-8)
“The Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” (Exodus 16:11-12)
“The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.” (Exodus 16:31)
“The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.” (Exodus 16:35)
MANNA AND QUAILS (vs. 1-36)
While the whole Israelites communities were settled in the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, they grumbled against Moses and Aaron saying: “If we only had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, buy you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death” (v. 3). Then the Lord Lord told Moses that he would rain down bread from heaven and gave them the instructions to gather enough for each day and twice the amount they gather on the 7th day. At twilight they could eat meat and in the morning bread. So God sent quail in that evening and the following day bread which they called Manna. However, some people gather more and kept it. but it was full of maggots the following day. Some people also went out on the 7th day but they found none because they were supposed to gather twice on the 6th day. Moses took an omer of Manna to keep it in a jar in front of the Testimony as remembrance for the generations to come. The Israelites ate Manna for 40 years until they settled in Canaan.
THOUGHTS:
When the Israelites encountered danger, shortages and inconveniences, they complained bitterly and longed to be back in Egypt. They thought about the quickest way of escape instead of trusting in God. When pressures come on your way, do not be tempted to make a quick escape. Instead, focus on God’s power and wisdom to deal with the cause of your stress. Make a determined effort to pray when you feel like complaining. Prayer quiets our thoughts and emotions and prepares us to listen to ease out our stress.
God provided the Israelites food in the desert. He gave detailed instruction for them to follow. In the same manner, we should learn to trust God by following his instruction in small steps of obedience.