Exodus 16
Bible Passage: Exodus 16
It’s hot, hot, hot! I feel like a slab of melted cheese in this sweltering weather. Why did God create mosquitoes? They suck my blood and leave ugly red marks on my skin! Why am I placed in the company of dishonest people in school and backstabbers in the workplace? Why am I stricken with such a serious bout of sickness? Why are others not grateful for what I’ve done for them? Why do I have to carry the responsibility of preaching to my family and friends? Why do I have to bear the brunt of attacks for my ‘puritanical’ views and deal with accusations against my religion? Why do I have to bear all of these? Why?
When God delivered the Israelites from their slavery and oppression in Egypt, they shouted their praises loud and clear in a song specially dedicated to Him:
“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.”
“You in Your mercy have led forth the people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation.”
Exodus 15:2,13
Two and a half months into their exodus from Egypt, while in the wilderness and enroute the promised land, the Israelites lodged their complaints against their leaders Moses and Aaron.
“Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Exodus 16:3
The Israelites severely undervalued their deliverance from 4 whole centuries of oppression in Egypt! They were quick to forget the miracle of their salvation from their aggressors. They spoke of wishing to have died in Egypt (!) They could not have had such a great time nor much to eat whilst serving their taskmasters as slaves in Egypt. They could have been ostracised or even tortured. Perhaps this incident really shows that man is limited by time and space when trying to understand the entirety and fullness of God’s salvation grace.
Still, God acted immediately and gave them meat aplenty in the evenings and showered tasty, sweet and nourishing manna from heaven in the mornings. God provided bountifully. It was now up to them to collect their portion and their family’s portions diligently and according to instructions.
But some paid no heed to instructions and we have a taste of how God felt toward those who decided to take their own course:
“How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?”
Exodus 16:28
If God were to sound out His frustrations with us, as we do Him all the time, what will He say?
Do you remember what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself? (Exodus 19:4) Do you not know My name? It is I. (Mark 6:50, Luke 24:39) Why do my children not heed my pleas to stay on course on this narrow road to eternal bliss? Why are you blinded by the things of the world? And your spiritual lens dimmed? (Luke 19:41-42) Why do you always do things to hurt me – I who love you the most? (Eph 5:25; Rev 1:5) How many more times will you trample on me and crucify me?
Hymn 297
I gave my life for thee, My precious blood, I shed,
That thou might’st ransomed be, and quickened from the dead;
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
My father’s house of light, My glory circled throne,
I left for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?
I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitter agony, to rescue thee from hell;
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?
And I have brought to thee, down from My home above,
Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
Incidentally, if you crave some manna today, feel free to browse this site for some tasty nourishing spiritual food:
Savour this bread from Heaven! Yes, savour the precious words of our beloved.
One Comment
PS
Israelites were instructed to keep the Sabbath in Ex 16.
On the sixth day, they gathered double portions of manna and prepared food for 2 days. The manna did not stink nor breed worms the next day (Ex 16:24).
On the seventh day, some went out to gather manna but found none (Ex 16:27).
Some may say if the keeping/ breaking the Sabbath is as evident today as the Israelites in Exodus, then he will keep the Sabbath.
Keeping Sabbath was laid down as the 4th commandment in Ex 20:8-11.
In Isa 58:13-14, the LORD has spoken to bless those who keep the Sabbath.
In Dec 2002, i went with my family on a 4-day trip to Bangkok. We arrived on Thursday and stayed till Sunday. On Friday, i contacted Bangkok church bec i want to keep Sabbath at the church. A bro agreed to fetch me from the hotel to the church. Before he put down the phone, he remarked that the traffic condition in the evening would usually be quite bad and if i just want to visit Bangkok church, it might be better to go on the next day. i replied that i wanted to keep Sabbath and he agreed to fetch me.
Due to bad traffic jam and break down in communication, my mum and i waited by the road side for nearly 1.5 hour before he arrived. The service had started by the time we arrived in church.
In the second prayer, i knelt down to pray as usual. My tongue rolled several times but i suppressed it to articulate my prayer. i could feel that there was a difference but it did not occur to me that it was the Holy Spirit praying for me.
The following week was the year end spiritual meeting in TK. A deacon told me on the third day that i have received the Holy Spirit.
Does God really bless those who keep the Sabbath? i believe that God does.