Learning to know God

If you have your bibles turn with me to the book of Exodus 16. And as you’re turning there…

I want you to think of a season in your life in which you were facing a test.

Now if you’re a student in service this morning, you probably have tests that you take on a regular basis… My daughter harper for instance had a science test on Friday of this week. And my Taylor takes tests on a regular basis as well…

but whether it’s math or science test, maybe a driving test or any other sort of test… we’ve tall taken them, right? and everyone loves tests, right?

No, probably not, but what does a test do? A test among other things, measures where you are with learning…Only by getting the result from the test, will a know how far they’ve come. And what you need to work on. And when a test is given, it gives the teacher, or the proctor of the test… the information they need, to help the student get better…

As adults, we also have tests… students, if you think you’re tests now are bad… you will have other tests, as you get older, that you won’t enjoy as much.

What are some examples of tests this morning? Heart test or other health test? Maybe a vehicle test, a diagnostic testing this morning? Right? there are many sorts of tests, most of which aren’t good… Or at least at the time don’t feel good…

Here’s the key I don’t know about you, but I can do okay, if I’m going into a test… when I know it’s a test…but what about when we’re going through a test of sorts. That we don’t realize it’s a test…

What about when our faith gets tests with health concerns, what about when our faith gets tested through a financial hardship, or challenge with your job…

Friends, the testing will make you better.

If you’re not already there, look with me at Exodus 16.

And as you’re turning there, we’re going to discuss the Israelites, who, in many ways are learning to know God for the first time… That’s our sermon idea this morning. And we’ll see as we look to the book of Exodus, that like the Israelites, we learn to know God by realizing among other things 3 things…

1. He gives us tests. 2. He desires us each day. 3. He gives Good things.

here’s what we’ll recall. You’ll recall the Israelites have recently crossed the Red Sea. God would send a strong wind to cause the sea to divide on the right and on the left, and the Israelites, some 2-3 million people would cross through this sea, then of course, much of the Egyptian army would try to pursue Israelites, and the seas would come crashing down on the Egyptians.

We then see that once across the Red sea, the Israelites went to the location of Shur. Shur was a vast, rugged and sparsely populated region in the northern Sinai desert. So, the idea that people could “go into the wilderness” to worship the Lord was now a reality.

And after crossing the Red Sea, you’ll recall the people are extremely thirsty. Initially, they went 3 days without anything to drink. We won’t look at it now, but you can look back at Exodus 15

25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. Exodus 15:25

So, this idea of testing has already begun, as soon as the Israelites begin the Exodus… God is already putting the people to the test.

Now mind you, the people are following the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night… and so the Lord was leading them… He brought them here. Yet he had led them to Marah… who had led them to this location

1. We pick up in Exodus 16 with point 1. As we learn - God gives us tests

1 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.”

4 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.”

As we look to the scripture, we see the Israelites leave from Elim, and Came to the desert of sin. Exactly 1 month after the exodus began. and you’ll recall that a month earlier, the people had set out with a limited amount of food. Unleavened bread for the journey ahead… but their supplies have now, been long used up… and the people are hungry.

The bible tells us everyone is complaining: 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. (not just some of the community, not just a handful of people… but everyone, is hungry. And they begin to grumble against moses and Aaron.)

The bible continues: 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.”

Now for me, I think of pots of food. And I can’t help but think of the melting pot… anyone ever been there before? Cheese fondue, right? Chocolate fondue desserts at the end? And I’m sure it wasn’t melting pot good… but the point is, whatever pots of meat looked like to these people… That’s what they had before… They sat around pots of meat and ate all the food they wanted.

and now, they’re not eating like they were before… and they’re going to be sure to let Moses and Aaron know, they’re not happy about it. By the way, I’m sure Moses and Aaron are loving this experience, They’re facing the effects of starvation as well… so not only are they starving, but the people are reminding them how upset they are.

In fact, the Israelites thought they were as good as dead! They said: You have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

4 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.

You see God knew their hunger. God had brought them to this specific place, at a specific time in history. And their hunger was real, their pain was real… but bigger still was the hand of God in their moment of need.

And here’s the key, the Bible Continues: 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.”

Guys God had tested them before,

God had tested his people throughout the exodus events: leading them in odd directions without explaining why , He tested them by surprising them with potential enemy attacks even after they had left Egypt, he tested them by requiring them to walk into and through the ocean, and by bringing then them to locations that lacked the necessities of life, including food and water…

In all of these challenges they were a part of a plan to develop a people’s willingness to trust God.

You see, sometimes we go through life… and we know we’re facing a test. Again, it could be a math or science test, a health screen or anything in between… But so often, we go through these tests, and we have no idea God is putting us through them.

But listen, a testing God isn’t an unloving God… He is a loving, all-knowing God, that see’s that the tests will better us in the end.

Also, for us this morning, we know how the testing will go… That the people will be fed, that God will give them manna and quail, that God would provide sweet drinking water. But for them, they’re living it out, day to day, moment to moment… and it didn’t physically feel God.

But here’s the key, if God explained everything in advance…. It would have shortchanged the plan... It was necessary for Israel to learn faith while confused, while afraid, while desperate, while hungry.

I wonder for us this morning, in the midst of our testing… is God trying to do something bigger? You may feel tired, hungry, in pain, confused… and the question is, is it possible, you’re in a season of testing?

2. He desires us each day

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.’” 10 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.’”

13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer[a] for each person you have in your tent.’”

17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” 20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. 21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.

As we look to the scripture, we see that in their hunger. The Israelites begin to grumble against the Lord. Which their approach was wrong, they shouldn’t have grumbled… they instead should have trusted, and prayed and God still would have provided…

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.’” 13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.

So, God would provide for the Israelites supernaturally. He would rain down from heaven each day thin flakes like frost on the ground of the desert. Which, we can only begin to imagine what they looked like… For me I can’t help but think of frosted flakes.And God would initially provides for his children with not just manna, but also quail to eat.

We also see that even though God is feeding the Israelites, he’s testing them by telling them not to keep any of it until morning. Which for the Israelites, being an agricultural people, this would have been a challenge. Farmers know that if one harvests only enough food in a day to meet the needs of that day, eventually they’re food will run out because no crops or animals produce food every day. That’s why we have harvest season, and you store up for not just the immediate needs, but for the future.

And so, the Israelites, some of them think along these lines… They begin to store away and save for the next day. And we’re told of this: 19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” 20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. 21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.

But here’s the key. The Lord was teaching them, He was testing them and causing their faith to expand… He was causing them to rely on him and his provision for that day.

But we also see, that yesterday’s manna, wasn’t good enough for today. You see, when the Israelites tried to keep what was left over from yesterday… and use it today, it was no good. It was rotten. It didn’t work. it was full of maggots and began to smell.

And the key was, yesterday’s manna, was good for yesterday… Today’s manna is good for today.

What about us today? You see in Matthew 6,

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

11 Give us today (This day) our daily bread.

Church, for us this morning… we can’t go back to yesterday’s store house for today’s sustenance. Each day’s manna, was enough for that day, but each day sustenance, or provision was only good for that day.

I wonder about us. Each day, God wants to meet with us. Not just for a few minutes, Christ is our life… he wants to meet with us, in the cool of the morning, he wants to walk with us throughout the day, and be there as the sun is setting on one day, and a new one is welcomed in…

As we learn to know God. would we allow him this day, and each day, to be our life… to be our sustenance afresh every day? 27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’” 33 So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come.”

34 As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law, so that it might be preserved. 35 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.

3. God gives good things

As we look back to the scripture, we see there are 2 things the Lord has given his people. The first one is rest; the Sabbath. The Bible tells us: 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

Now unlike their time in Egypt, where the people were slaves, and worked many hours. Unlike their time we’re they were kept from going into the wilderness to worship the Lord…Here, in this scripture, we see the Lord gives his people rest. He gives them a sabbath.

Of course, this was first modeled during creation where God would create over the first 6 days and on the 7th day rest. But it also speaks to coming law that will be received at Mt. Sinai, the 4th commandment being to remember the sabbath, and resting.

So, God is good in giving rest? Amen? Does anyone not like to rest?

But even in the manna. 31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Again, we don’t know what the manna tasted like. But whatever it is, it’s sweet, it’s satisfying, it’s filling… it’s exactly what the people would need for each day’s journey.

Church, this morning, God knows how to give good things.

Matthew 7:9-11 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Church, God knows what we need before we ask.

He gives us good things this morning. He hears our cry, and sometimes, even though we don’t like them, he’s allowing tests in our lives… But ultimately as he leads us on. He knows the journey forward.

But church, we can trust him this morning. He is good.

Call the elders up at this time.

Special time to remember, the sacrifice of Jesus through communion…. (Explain)

1 Cor 11:28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

1 Cor 11:23-24 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

1 Cor 11:25-26 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.