Moses--Day 19
Thursday, September 23
Moses: Called, Challenged, Changed
Day 19—Bread from Heaven
Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, “Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” 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. 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 16:9-11
Suggested reading: Exodus 16
The Israelites set out from the shade and the springs of Elim and headed into the Desert of Sin. It didn’t take long for the grumbling to start back up. Heat. Grumble. Hunger. Grumble. Thirst. Grumble. Repeat. Grumble. (In the first eleven verses of this chapter, the word grumble is mentioned seven times.)
The people said to Moses and Aaron, “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” (v.3). Really? They “sat around pots of meat” in Egypt? The last I remember they were marching in straw-less mud pits, striving to make bricks for their oppressive task masters.
And what does God do with these grown-up Hebrews who are demonstrating toddler-like-throw-downs?
He blesses them.
He provides for them.
He is gracious and merciful to them.
And all the while, He teaches them.
We see God in action here: In the evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor (v.13). And of course, this bread (manna) was sweet; it had the taste of honey, an “extra” touch of God.
In this provision, God gave explicit instructions on how to gather the manna each day: an omer for each person in your tent…and Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it til morning?” (v 19). Did these folks obey? Some of them did. The ones that saved their left-overs (just in case God wasn’t faithful) ended up with maggot-filled-manna and a smelly tent.
God also gave instruction about gathering a double portion of manna on the sixth day so they could have a Sabbath rest on the seventh. Sure enough, when some of the people went to gather manna on the seventh day, there was none to be found. God had provided the day before so they…could…rest. (Rest is a BIG deal to God.)
Thoughts:
Before I write my thoughts, I need to confess my toddler-like-throw-down that I had with God the other day. Too many details, just know it wasn’t pretty. Grumble, complain, grumble, question, grumble, doubt, grumble,
repeat. The good news is this, God dealt with me the exact same way that he did these Israelites in the Desert of (their own) Sin. He was gracious to me and he taught me yet one more time about his love and care.
Today, let’s rejoice in the fact the God is faithful to faithless people! He gives in the morning, and He gives at night, and gives every minute in between. He gives what we need when we need it, nothing more, nothing less. (May we learn that our hoarding only leads to smelly tents!)
AND He longs for us to trust him so we…can…rest. (Repeat: Rest is a BIG deal to God…because he knows our frame.)
His word and his Spirit to our souls are like the bread and manna to the Hebrews bodies in the desert. We need daily replenishing. The question for us is, will we gather what we need for the day? If we do, our faithful God has promised that his words will be sweeter than honey to our lips (Psalm 119:103).
Going Deeper and Sweeter: Psalm 81:16; Psalm 19 9-10; John 6:47-51
Dear Lord,
Great is your faithfulness! Please turn our grumbling hearts into ones that both trust you completely and obey you fully. Give us a desire to gather your goodness in the morning and marinate in your mercy at night. Amen.
