ETB Exodus 16:11-19; 17:1-6

Session 6: 1/5/2025 Provision Given p.55

Our study in Exodus started with Moses asking God “Who are you?” Today’s passage has the Israelites asking, “What is it?”

Whenever those questions are asked close together, many are reminded of the comedic masterpiece mentioned in the quarterly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwWVfesLYuk

What do you think makes this skit so memorable?

If you watch some of different Abbot and Costello’s recordings, you will probably hear slight differences in the presentations but the use of the common words with double meanings and quick changes of reference keeps the skit fresh and funny nearly every time.

Sometimes when we have questions, the answers like in this skit can be humorous. Other times the same questions can be quite sobering.

Understand the Context

After God’s miraculous rescue of the Israelites at the Red Sea, they (The Israelites) found themselves in the harsh wilderness (Ex. 15:22), exactly where they needed to be. It was a place where they had to rely on the Lord.

After we come to Christ, we often find ourselves in a world hostile to the God of grace. Survival in this “wilderness” requires that we stop relying on our own resourcefulness and trust God and His Word. [LifeWay Adults (2024). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide, Spring 2024]

Hopefully as we look at today’s lesson passage, we can learn to live in this hostile environment in a way that honors our Savior and Lord.

The prophet Hosea quoted God to explain the deeper reason for God moving His people through the desert (Hos. 2:14). It was not a matter of judgment or punishment against them. Instead, it was an act of love and compassion. The Lord had brought them to a place of absolute need so they would turn to Him as the only One capable of meeting that need. He wanted to show His abundant love by providing for them, but they had to trust Him. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Like Costello in the skit, the people of Israel did not understand “Who” God was and He was going to use the wilderness to help them understand, but it was going to be much less humorous for them. Sometimes when we intend for something to come across humorously it does not and the misunderstanding causes tension in the relationship. God’s love for the people also was not seen in a positive way and incited sinful reactions. Thankfully, God already knew this and already had plans to ease tensions and reveal Himself as a trusted provider.

Explore the Text

Exodus 16:11–15 ESV

11 And 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.’ ” 13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And 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. 15 When 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.

I have heard the grumbling

What was it that the people were grumbling about?

At the beginning of Chapter 15, they were singing praises to God for the deliverance through the Red Sea. By the end of the chapter, bitter water was made drinkable for their survival but now they wanted something to eat.

The Israelites seem to have the same selective memory problem we do today as they recalled the “good” parts of Egypt and having “plenty” to eat but forgot about the hardships.

I am encouraged by God’s response. It was not a scolding but an acknowledgement of their current situation and an abundant provision to overcome it.

The end of verse 12 is the key to the entire wilderness saga.

“Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God”

God’s relationship with Israel in the wilderness involved an ongoing series of teachable moments. Like a parent raising a child, God patiently and consistently taught them what it meant to be His people in the world. In this case, they would be filled with the food He provided. More important, they would recognize Him as their only Provider. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

The Moody Bible Commentary G. The Journey from the Sea to Sinai, Part One (15:22–17:7)

These provisions were gracious but they were also a “test” (15:25; 16:4) for the people. Each day as they gathered these food supplies they would either gratefully and humbly acknowledge the Lord’s provision as such or thoughtlessly and selfishly consume them. If one daily acknowledged the Lord’s provision it should naturally lead that one to acknowledge and submit to the Lord’s commandments and statutes. However, if one was unmindful of the source of these provisions one would likely be unmindful of the Lord’s command to walk in My instruction

God said He was going to provide meat in the evening and bread in the morning. Most scholars tell us the “meat” was not a continuous provision but that the morning bread came every day.

What was the “meat” that was provided?

The quail mentioned in the Bible were smaller, migratory birds. Likely, this flock had stopped to rest after a long flight. Because they were weak fliers and tired, the birds would have been easy targets for the hungry Hebrews. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Several reference books indicate the migratory pattern of these birds came across this part of the middle east as they flew from Europe to Africa. God’s timing of this flock may have been in sequences with the established pattern, but it did not have to be. Like the bread in the morning, God did not require natural means for providing.

What was the “bread” that was provided?

Moses tells them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you.”

This is one of the ways God fulfills His declaration at the end of verse 12 to “know that I am Yahweh.”

14 centuries later “The Bread” will break a loaf and give that bread to His 12 closest disciples and say, “Take eat,” “this is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me”

Starting here in Scripture, every time we read about “bread” being used in a ritual or as an example, it points to Jesus.

John 6:47–48 “47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life.”

Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament Volume 1 (Genesis–Job) Exodus 16:13

Numbers 11 tells us that the host, the bread, was covered by dew in order that it not be defiled by the ground. In addition to this practical reason, I believe it was so that we could see a wonderful illustration of both the written Word and the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. You see, water in the Scriptures speaks of the work and Person of the Holy Spirit. No wonder, then, that the bread came in the dew, for it is only as the Spirit gives us understanding that we can read the written Word—and only by the Spirit that Jesus, the Word made flesh, was conceived (Matthew 1:20).

As we read through verses 16-19 think about this question.

What connections do you see between these commands about the manna and our relationship with Jesus?

Exodus 16:16–19 ESV

16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’ ” 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. 19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.”

Each of you

The first connection to Jesus I see is each person much come to Jesus and “take Him in” on their own. It is not something someone else can do for you. This bread also was to be gathered by all those who were able.

God provides for our needs, not our prideful wants or our demands for security through abundance. The Israelites were commanded to gather only enough for the day. This was contrary to human wisdom, which demands that we “save for a rainy day.” But God was teaching them to rely on Him every day. The Lord said they could eat until they were full (see v. 12). But since “full” is subjective, He specified an average of an omer for each person. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

Each take an omer

I tried to find a container at my house that was about the size of an omer but did not find one. Most of you have seen 2-liter bottles, and probably have some 1-liter water bottles or other drinking containers. An omer is somewhere between this, about 1.5 liters. This is the amount of the “bread” that was to be gathered for each person in the camp.

Using an estimate of 2 million total people, that’s 3 million liters of manna.

Here is the closest imagery I could come up with. If you take a loaf of white bread, which is about 18” long and stand it on its end and keep adding loafs like this until you fill an entire football field, including end zones, that is about how much manna was present.

Not just that day, every day. For the next 14,400 days.

Thinking about that makes feeding 5,000 people one time seem not as big but does not diminish God’s faithful provision.

They gathered, some more, some less.

Verse 18 may suggest that one person from each family collected for the group. They may have pooled their harvest to provide enough for each person. However it happened, those who collected more did not have a surplus, while those who took in less did not experience lack (v. 18).

Paul may have been thinking of this principle when he wrote to the Corinthians about proper motives in giving. In 2 Corinthians 8:15, the apostle quoted Exodus 16:18 in the context of generosity. He said those who have plenty should share with those in need so everyone would have what they needed to survive and thrive for the sake of the gospel. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

The next connection I see to our relationship with Christ is how much the people gathered. Some people can take in more information than others. Some can learn faster than others. Some put in less effort and get less out of it. But what was the end result of the gathering?

whoever gathered little had no lack

God always provides enough. He will fill you up with Jesus as fast as you can go, or as slow as you need, but you can always be satisfied.

Let no one leave any of it over till the morning

The Israelites were to gather only enough for each person to consume with gratitude that day. Hoarding is generally recognized as a behavioral disorder, but it also can be a spiritual disorder that demonstrates a failure to trust God. Jesus reminded His followers that God cares for the birds—and people are worth much more than birds (Luke 12:24). God would make sure they had what they needed each day. [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

This phrasing also reminds me that what I learned or experienced of Christ today is not be carried over to tomorrow on its own. I need to meet and partake again of His provision in a fresh and new way every morning. Much like physical food only nourishes this physical body for time until it needs more nutrients, so too our spirit has a “recommended daily amount.” Some people need more, some need less, but only God can supply however much we need every day.

God had made a provision, then told the people the instructions about the provision. You have read enough of the Bible I’m sure to know how well they or how long the people of Israel followed these instructions. But what about us today?

Ask: How does our obedience to God’s instructions display our trust in Him? (p. 59)

Do you partake of God’s “bread of life” everyday? Would you say you take in a lot or just enough to sustain life?

Matthew 5:6 “6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Sometimes the lack of satisfaction speaks more about the recipient’s desire than the faithfulness of the provider.

The meat and bread were provided by God and the grumbling stomach and attitudes for food stopped - for a time.

Exodus 17:1–6 ESV

1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible Exodus 15:22–17:7

Rephidim is the Israelites’ last stop on their way to Sinai, and here they again complain to God about the lack of water. To have two similar episodes so close to each other in the narrative points out the absurdity of Israel’s lack of trust in God. Like Pharaoh before them, how many times do they need to see God work before they understand?

One commentator mentioned that if you have ever been traveling and pulled off the road to get something to drink only to find the water fountain not working or the soda machine empty, you get an inkling of how the people felt at Rephidim. Your reaction to the situation will also reveal your trust in God’s provision and sovereignty, much like it does for the Israelites in our passage.

“The people quarreled with Moses” appears to be a legal term and action like bring suit against someone. The people blamed Moses for bringing them to a place with no water, even though everyone saw the pillar of cloud and fire direct them to this place.

What was their complaint this time?

The people had gone from asking “where can we find food” to demanding “give us water.” Although the people were accusing Moses, they were in fact “testing” the Lord.

The Lord tests His people to train them in godliness (see 20:20; Deut. 8:16; Pss. 26:2; 66:10). However, testing God usually means to doubt His faithfulness or to defy His authority. It may involve trying to manipulate God into meeting our demands by proving Himself (as in, “If you really loved me, you’d do this for me”). [ETB:ALG Spr'24]

I forget which pastor it was, but he said that when we stop asking the Lord to provide and start demanding Him to give, it is a sure sign that our hearts and minds have moved away from gratitude to attitude.

If the bread given everyday points to Jesus, what about their need for daily water?

John 7:37 “37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”

Moses, less than 6 months into the journey is already at his wits end with the people and asks God, “What am I to do with this people?”

God’s response is one of action.

you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it

Bread, water, and now rock all symbols and arrows directing us toward Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:4 “4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.”

John 7:38 “38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ””

Every need the Israelites had; God provided. And like and good Father, He even provided for some of their wants with the quail. God has never stopped providing for those who trust in Him and come to Him in humility. He is all-sufficient.

Ask: In what ways have you seen God provide for your needs or for someone you love? (p. 62)

Apply the Text

The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible Exodus 15:22–17:7

We are in a privileged position of living in the age in which the kingdom of God has indeed already come in Christ, although we still await its final implementation at his second coming. Still, grumbling and complaining as our Israelite ancestors did remains a live option for us. And thus we must make every effort to guard against this in view of the clearer vision we have of God’s goodness that is ours by virtue of the Spirit who dwells in us. Indeed, it is precisely because of the Spirit’s indwelling that we are able to resist.

Pray: For opportunities to be God’s hands and feet in meeting the needs of others.

Remind us that You are able to provide for any need we have.

Help us to demonstrate faith by trusting You to provide anew each day.

Allow us to see and be grateful for the great lengths You go to show Your care and provision for Your people.