2-19-15. Exodus 16:1-12. Get Ready For God To Respond To Our Cries-my devotional

Exodus 16:1-12                                                                                           Kevin E. Jesmer

Key Verse: 16:4                                                                                           2-19-15

“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.” (NIV)

 Part 1: Look Beyond the Disparaging Remarks To See The Real Need. (1-3)

The nation of Israelites needed to grow spiritually by remembering who God is and how he works. They needed to also control their disparaging words. Look at Exodus 16:1-3, “The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 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.”

The people had come out of slavery in Egypt. The ancient Israelites had been traveling through the wilderness for a month and a half. They were breathing the fresh air of freedom for the first time in more than four centuries. God had done a wonderful, miraculous deliverance among them. They beheld the power and glory of the Lord. They experienced God’s love on so many fronts. They also just experienced God’s great deliverance, when he made the waters clean for them to drink and led them to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees. God was indeed gracious to his people and he was continually delivering them and training them in faith, which often included being delivered at the very last moment.  The people needed to remember who God is and how he has been faithfully leading them and lean on his everlasting arms.

But life for the people, in the arid desert, was relentlessly difficult. And now the Israelites faced another challenge. They were running out of food. They had reached the end of their resources and felt that they were about to starve to death. Maybe they were about to starve to death. But they needed to remember that this was another of those “training moments”. They should have remembered how God has been working in events in the past. They should have hung on in hope, praying, trusting and encouraging one another, knowing that their deliverance and blessings were just around the corner.

But they were not quite there yet. That is an uber-spiritual standard. It is a goal. That is the level that they needed to hope in and strive towards. In the mean time God was willing to meet them where they were and help them to grow and mature spiritually through this difficult event.

They were saying some disparaging things here. They were saying that they would rather be hacked with swords and pierced with arrows and be driven into the sea to drown at the hands of the Egyptian cavalry, than be where they were now at that moment. They began to remember slave life in Egypt with nostalgia. They forgot the cruel whip of the slave driver, the murdered babies, the long hours of back-breaking labor, and the ever-present fear. They only thought about the security of three meals a day and would rather suffer endlessly, living as slaves with full stomachs, then be in their present situation. And so, in their hunger, they grumbled to Moses, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! Why did you bring us out here in this desert to die of starvation?” (16:1-3)

People do say some disparaging things when they are desperate or frustrated. At the time they may truly mean it. But in their deep heart of hearts they really don’t. They just want to vent and be heard. They want to hear wise and encouraging words. They want hope and direction. A truly great leader and counselor needs to see beyond the gripes and see what people are really struggling with. And then they need the wisdom of Solomon to help them. I truly think that this is what God does with us.

Part 2: God Provides And Matures His People In Their Faith (16:4-9)

God is the God who cares for his people in very wise ways. His intent is to care for their needs and grow them in faith. Look at Exodus 16:4-9, “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. 5 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.” 6 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, 7 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?” 8 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.” 9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”

God understood the hunger of his people. God heard their cries and had every intention to provide for the people. “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.”(4a) When children are hungry, wise and loving parents feed them. God would feed his people. He sent convey after convey of plump, quail in the evening. That night, the people enjoyed roasted squab, and the next morning, manna from heaven covered the ground. It was delicious and nutritious fare. God provides his people what they need, when they need it. (Not always what we may want. There is a difference.) He still does. We only have to trust him and experience his gracious provision. Then our hearts can be at peace no matter what may befall us.

Even though God was concerned about their physical suffering he was also concerned with their spiritual needs. He was not just going to hand over an endless supply of food. The Israelites needed more than food. They needed mature faith born out of God’s loving discipline. And so God revealed his plan. “…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” (4b) This is all because God loved them as his treasured possession. God had hope for them, and so he gave them “daily bread training.” We can see the point of the spiritual training in verse 8, “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.” He would give them bread, yes, but he would also teach them obedience, diligence and faithfulness.

There would be a point to God’s provision for his people. He would subject them to some spiritual training so that they could mature spiritually, learning to trust in God. Yes, the Israelites were free from bondage in Egypt. They were free to chart their own course. God was not taking their freedom away. He was bolstering their freedom. Discipline does not rob people of freedom. It restrains our sinful nature so that we can be really free and enjoy the fruits of freedom. How free are we if our hearts are full of sin, fear, grumbling and complaining? The people needed spiritual training to get their hearts right and move forward in life.

Think about it this way, parents who only provide the material necessities for their children but do not discipline them in regards to “higher” matters of living, are not really begin constructive. They may love their kids. But it is misguided and they are missing something very important.

God’s training for his people consisted of two parts. Look at verses 4b-5 again, “…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. 5 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.” First, he taught them to live normal lives–getting up early and working hard for six days a week, trusting and obeying God on a daily basis. And second, God also taught them to keep the Sabbath day holy. His instructions were very concrete: He wanted the people to get up early each morning and gather daily bread. They were not to get too much nor too little. They should honor the Creator by keeping the Sabbath. They should depend on God with humble and thankful hearts.

First, daily obedience. The manna covered the ground each morning, but as soon as the sun got hot, it disappeared. They had to get up early every morning for 40 years. They couldn’t sleep in until noon, or the manna would be gone and they would be hungry. They were to gather just as much as they needed for one day. They had to gather it every day. If they were lazy and didn’t gather enough, they would be hungry and go begging. If they were greedy and gathered too much, the leftovers would spoil and emit a terrible odor.

Do I need help to live a normal, hardworking, life during the week? If it were not for the grace of God, I would not be able to keep a routine schedule. But, by God’s grace, I have my family which I have to provide for. I have bills to pay. I have a career. I have a church family that meets regularly. I can fit right into a schedule and live a productive lifestyle. But what if I was a missionary on a remote community, with no church schedule to plug into and no daily job? Would I be able to live a productive daily life, obeying the Lord? Or will my mornings begin later and later until all I am doing is existing? I pray and hope to be able to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit everyday, so that I can live a productive and fruit-bearing life no matter what the circumstance.

He was going to see if they would trust the Lord for each day of provision. The question is, do we trust that the Lord will provide for our daily needs? Do we know that God hears our cries and provides for our needs? Can we trust Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”? God does provide, even more than I need. I have not gone hungry, even since I was born. I have been eating three meals a day for fifty years. I have never been homeless. I have never been without a source of money. I have never been without goals and a mission in life and resources to fulfill them. I always have people who love me and support me. God has continually come through. I must always believe that he always will.

But can I trust God for my daily provision, when the daily supplies are running short? I say that I trust God, but in some ways I am trusting in my health and strength to get me through each day. I am trusting in my stable job at the hospital. I am trusting in my mind being able to stay intact and on track. I am trusting in my wages, my wife’s wages and support, the infrastructure of America, my retirement plan. My kids being willing to help me in my old age. There are so many things I trust in other than God. Of course God is providing all of these things in my life, but could I trust in him for daily needs as these ancient Israelites were in the desert. They had very little. They were hard pressed on every quarter and still they were called to trust in God.

To trust God to this level is being like Abram in the Book of Genesis. Look at Genesis 12:1-4, “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.” (NIV) Abram was called to leave everything he trust in. He could not depend on his family ranch or the good will of his neighbors. He had no kids. He could not even trust in his health or his strength for he was an old man. He left as God told him. He was full of faith and trust for the daily provision that God would provide. Can I have this kind of faith in God who loves me and care about me? I pray to grow in this kind of faith.

Second, keeping the Sabbath day holy. On the sixth day, the Israelites were to gather enough for two days. When some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather manna, they found none. They wasted their time on fruitless ventures and they ignored God and the fellowship of believers. It is clear that God wanted his people to worship and serve him on the Sabbath, and not just dwell in their vague fears and futile attempts to survive. He wanted them to come together in community to worship him. Look at verse 9, “Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” It was a call the entire community to come before the Lord, to worship.

I believe that the same is true today. The fact is, when we honor God by keeping his day holy, he gives us real rest and restores our souls and provides for our needs. (Matt 6:33) In my observations, the most blessed Christians are the ones who have found a home for themselves in the local church and are faithful to meet together. Being part of a community actually helps you to live longer. It may take a long time to get over the “uncomfortable” stage of joining a church, but those who are committed and faithful to worshipping and serving the Lord, in the local church, are blessed.

But it is not easy to do so. Can we keep fellowship with the people of God a priority in life, even when our minds are struggling with real and perceived needs? It seems that everything is pulling us from all quarters to ignore the Sabbath Day. I pray for strength to be faithful, not out of legalism, but out of a thanksgiving that I can worship the Lord with other believers.

Part 3. Gather In Unity And In Prayerful Expectation (10-12)

God wants his people to gather in faith, in unity, in grace and in expectation. Then they will see the glory of God. Look at Exodus 16:10-12, “While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud. 11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “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.’”

Recall in verses 6-9 how Moses and Aaron told the Israelites that the Lord has heard their grumbling and that they must gather before the Lord and the Lord will reveal himself to them. These spiritual leaders spoke in faith. They knew God. They knew that he was listening to them and concerned and they knew that he would reveal his glory to the people. This required faith, on the part of Moses and Aaron, to make such bold statements. It shows that disciples of Jesus should pray and minister believing that the living, Risen Christ will work among his people. We need some spiritual confidence. Pray believing. Speak believing. God is with you.

The people were to gather together before the Lord. (Verse 10). The entire community of the children of Israel would present themselves as a whole congregation to the Lord. There is something about a whole congregation, coming together in faith and expectation. God is there among his people. Jesus is called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” God is happy to be among his people and he provides his grace in order to make this happen. Normally the holy God can not dwell among sinners. But he can do this when he forgive sinners of their sins. It was God’s grace that he was planning to appear to a community of people who were grumbling against him. He forgave them, because he loves them.

God did appear and overwhelmed them by appearing in a cloud of glory. It is more than likely that the cloud that was leading the Israelites all along, took on a new appearance of even greater glory. The point is that God showed up. He revealed his glory to the people in very unique and personal way. God did this many times. Think about the time in the Upper Room when the early believers gathered to pray. God showed up with the sound of a violent wind and fire that came to rest on their heads. The believers were enabled to speak in other tongues. He revealed his glory to the new church. God is still showing up and revealing his glory in very personal ways. It is possible because of his grace of forgiveness. He does wonderful things when his people come together in prayerful expectation provided by the grace of God.

I thank God for our Canada FN mission prayer meetings. We are gathering to pray every two weeks. A fellowship in Canada is gathering every week to pray. A homebound believer is faithfully and intensely praying for the mission. Who are we, but groups of forgiven sinners? We stand in our faith and in God’s presence only by the grace of Jesus. It is this grace that allows us to pray believing. God is revealing his glory among us. This mission has progressed in so many miraculous ways. It has gone from a hopeful prayer to the actual sending of two missionary families in two years. To me this is unheard of. He will continue to reveal his glory among us. God is doing wonderful things among his people who gather in prayerful expectation. He is helping us to know that he is the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for hearing our prayers and seeing our need. Thank you for providing physically and spiritually in your wisdom. Help us to grow in faith and united prayer.

One Word: Learn to trust the Lord daily and obey him and you will see the glory of God.