The Lord Provides

Introduction: story about being lost in the wilderness

As we pick up our place in the book of Exodus this morning, we jump in on the back of the Red Sea Crossing, Picking up the story in Exodus chapter 15:22 we read that

Right away after experiencing God’s deliverance, after seeing God come down and defeat their enemies before their eyes we are told that Moses leads them into the wilderness…

Why does God Lead his people to the wilderness?

The wilderness (Midbar) is a place in the Bible, usually referring to a desert or a desolate place. a place of scarcity, and often danger.

The bible tells us that the wilderness is a place…

we can end up as a result of our own decisions

(Exodus 2:11-15) - Moses fleeing after killing an Egyptian

(Genesis 27-28) - Jacob flees after tricking his father and stealing Esaus blessing of inherientence.

We can end up as a result of the actions and decisions of others

(Genesis 16:1-8) - Hagar fleeing from Abraham and Sarah

(1 Samuel 19-24) - David fleeing from Saul’s murderous rage and jealousy.

(1 Kings 11:40) - Jeroboam feeling Solomon’s attempt to take his life.

We can end up as a result of God’s leading

(1 Kings 17:2–6; 19:3–8) - After confronting Ahab, Elijah was sent by the word of the Lord to the wilderness by the brook Cherith

This third route into the wilderness is the one that we find in our passage here in Exodus. God after saving the Israel through the waters of the Red Sea leads his people now to the wilderness where they will encounter two moments of testing.

Exodus 15:23–24 ESV

When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”

Three days have come and gone… and no festival in sightnot only was there not festival but also no water either, and when they finally come across some water… its not even drinkable. (remember what Moses said to Pharaoh: Let us go three days into the wilderness so we can celebrate a feast to Yahweh…)

They being to murmur or grumble. They begin to complain. Now this is import at because during Israels journey in the wilderness this complaining becomes a regular occurrence.

When we think complaining or grumbling, its more than just voicing their discomfort or misunderstanding to God.Here in their complaining Israel has made their concern heard and decided to remain constant in their grumbling. (This typer of complain or grumbling is actually a lack of faith on behalf of Israel) (See the Psalms as a positive examples of this)

But God graciously responds…

Exodus 15:25–27 ESV

And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.

The wood thrown into the water is intended to be a subtle reminder for Israel of the wooden staff that moses used to perform an even greater miracle regarding water only a few short days ago. In this miracle God reminds his people of the waters that could have brought death to them God made to behaved in a manner contrary to their nature, and for the good of Israel. to give them life.

Test #1:

This moment for God’s people becomes a testing moment…

Not like we think of tests… where its either we pass or fail, but an opportunity for their hearts to be revealed to God. Its an opportunity for Israel to choose whether they would trust God to lead them and fight for them.

God is saying to his people “stick to me and you will not relive the horrors of Egypt again… but if you don’t just know that an Egypt like fate awaits you if you continue down that path.

Even amidst the harsh warning, we still see a glimpse of God’s grace toward his people (for anyone who says there is no grace in the OT)…

regardless of how God’s people end up in-the wilderness, the wilderness is a place that is not void of God’s presence verse 27 (Go back to previous examples)

it is a display of God’s presence, his blessing and promise for his people right where they are.

70 and 12 here are numbers that that are intended to represent completion

Here is a glimpse into what is to come, The promise of God long ago to Abraham was that that the people wold inherit the lush land of Canaan, the place that he was preparing for his people to settle.

Unfortunately this is only temporary…Soon enough Israel finds themselves on the road again to Sinai.

Exodus 16:1–7 ESV

They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and 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.” Then 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. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” So 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, and 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?”

Israel is now two months into the journey and again we find that they complained against the Lord.

after God’s provision of water in the dessert, and the springs of Elim you would expect Israel to have complete trust in Yahweh at this point. But what we come to find is that Israel has rebelled again against God.

Israel is now two months into the journey and again they complained against the Lord.

(The irony of their complaint)…. How quickly we forget where God has brought us from, the things he has done….

in response to this rebellion, God’s response to his people is one of grace and provision…

Exodus 16:12–15 ESV

“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.’ ” In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 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. 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.

God provides Manna and Quail (Bread and Meat)

God provides again, without any sign of anger or wrath. He provides because of his commitment to his promise, and to his own glorification. but this time there is one caveat…

Test #2:

They are only to gather what they need for each day.

Not only are they commanded to do this for each day but God tell them on the 6th day they are to gather twice as much, because the 7th day they are to observe a sabbath to the Lord. (Six days you shall gather bread, but on the seventh day there will be none - V26)

God is giving his people an opportunity again to trust in his gracious provision, An opportunity to take him at his word.

God is giving Israel an opportunity to demonstrate their faithfulness to God by trusting that he will provide for them

This is what is so incredible about the sabbath…

Its an opportunity for God’s people to trust that God is good

…. For God’s people to cease striving and working and put their trust in God’s ability to provide.

… For God’s people to rest knowing that the God who created and sustains all things will protect them and sustain their bodies and souls.

This command to keep the sabbath is interesting because on the sabbath God ceases working. The importance of sabbath comes as a result of the fact that it is something God himself does and expects his people to follow suit.

Think about what just happened at the Red Sea, and remember Moses words… ”the Lord will fight for you, you need only be still”

Sabbath is a reminder ultimately that our life is given and sustained by the creator of the universe.

For Israel as they are on the journey of becoming the people of God, they are faced with a challenge. A decision. will they choose to hoard God’s divine provision of food. or will they use this as an opportunity to trust God anew each day. This decision will continue to be before God’s people, as they journey thought the wilderness, and eventually into the promise land so that Israel will be reminded that their lives ought to be in a state of regular dependance on God. And this also should be the case for us as well.

Summary:

In studying this passage of scripture, i found myself this week just in awe of God’s grace.

It is truly incredible that despite our flaws, despite our sinfulness, despite our lack of faith, our complaining and grumbling… God dose’t walk away. He doesn't turn his back on his people. He continues to invite us in. Because he is so gracious…. (16:10)

God would go on to sustain his people with Manna for 40 years right up until the day they entered into the promise land. But as we think about Israels desert experience here, there comes from this passage a clear challenge for us.

Psalm 95 6-11

one commentator says “as Servants of God we are bound to trust in his good pleasure”… So today, if you would hear the voice of the Lord today, do not harden your heart.