Exodus 16:2–15

The whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, ³and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

⁴Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. ⁵On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” ⁶So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, ⁷and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” ⁸And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”

Image

⁹Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” ¹⁰And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. ¹¹And the Lord said to Moses, ¹²“I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”

¹³In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. ¹⁴And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. ¹⁵When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.”

Our text depicts how all people are dependent upon God. By our own reason and strength, we cannot supply our own needs and would perish. Most people do not recognize our utter reliance on God, believing support of the body is a matter of work, wages, and their own ingenuity. With science, wisdom, and wealth, we cannot make a single grain of wheat. People do not realize that the wheat which makes the flour, which makes the bread is a gift from God. Without God and His free gift of wheat and other necessities of life, the whole world would starve to death.

Our text also teaches how God provides for our earthly needs. Having no place to buy any supplies, the Israelites could see no way out of their situation. Out of fear, hunger, and helplessness, the entire assembly grumbled. But necessity is God’s opportunity. By His almighty power, God miraculously provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. “In the evening quail came up. . .. In the morning…there was upon the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing,” (cf. 13-14). Having never seen anything like it, the people asked, “What is it?” and Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat” (cf. 15).

God says, “Behold, I Am about to rain bread from heaven for you!” So, we have nothing to grumble about. He provides our daily bread today which includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body. And more than that, God gave you the Bread of Life “who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33). God sent His Son who bled and died on the cross for your sins. He rose again from the grave to give you eternal life.

825 North 1^st West

Cheyenne Wells, CO, 80810-0728

Sunday Service begins at 9:00AM