Exodus 16:1-36 – “Food For The Soul”
I.) Intro.
Last week we looked at the song sung by the nation as they started out on their journey—a song of praise to the Lord’s great victory in their lives. But just three days later, that song had changed to the “blues”. Perhaps they could have sung another familiar tune, like the classic theme song from Gilligan’s Island:
“Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip,
That started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny ship…”
We Christians must remember that our journey is not a “three-hour tour”. We should praise the Lord not only when situations and circumstances meet our expectations but always! As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:14: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.” How much are your emotions hinged on favorable expectations, and how much are they based on the Word of God? We often get excited by our fleeting emotions, but rarely are we as excited by the certainty of God’s Word.
At the start of their spiritual journey, God showed His consistency despite their failure. The grumbling was met with grace and mercy time and again until they met Him at Mount Sinai. Then, they were allowed to wander in the wilderness for 40 years until the last of that generation had died. How about you? Are you ready to start praising the Lord based on His faithfulness?
II.) Vs. 1-12 What’s for dinner?
Vs. 1-2 All of us live within the realm of two great concerns that sometimes consume us: “today” and “tomorrow,” or, the “present” and the “future.” The Israelites were refreshed at Elim, an oasis (15:27), and likely singing the song of victory again. The present was taken care of, so they didn’t worry about the future. When they worried about water, God provided sweet water and fresh water. He was showing them He could take care of both today and tomorrow.
Several key details in these verses relate to the setting:
- Vs. 1: They were leaving Elim and heading to Mount Sinai, through the wilderness of Sin. This wilderness has no relation to our word “sin”. They were in the “day-to-day grind” between the oasis of God’s blessings and the place where they would experience greater revelation of God.
- Vs. 1: Time had passed—exactly one month since they left Egypt. The excitement of the journey was gone, and they were already saying, “I’m hungry, I’m thirsty, when are we going to get there?”
- Vs. 2: Attitudes affected everybody. The spirit of discontentment spread to the whole congregation, and “grumbling” or “murmuring” is mentioned nine times in the first twelve verses.
- Vs. 3: Attitudes distorted reality. They had forgotten the hardships of Egypt, recalling only the abundance of food they supposedly had. They preferred dying full in bondage over being free and dependent on God.
Vs. 4-5 God announces that He will bless them despite their complaints. This doesn’t make sense, right? They don’t deserve it. But God calls His provision “bread from heaven” (mentioned five times), while Israel calls it “Manna” or “What is it” (mentioned eighteen times). Jesus later clarified in John 6:32-33 that this bread came down to give life to the world. God was showing His grace and mercy despite their failure to trust Him.
Vs. 7-9 Notice what the Lord says here:
- Vs. 7: Because of their murmuring, they shall see the glory of the Lord.
- Vs. 8: Because of their murmuring, they shall have meat in the evening and bread in the morning.
- Vs. 9: Because of their murmuring, they shall be brought nearer to the Lord.
But also notice: their murmuring was not against Moses but against God. They were really grumbling against Him, questioning His character.
Vs. 10-12 What did they see when they looked toward the wilderness? The glory of the Lord! God wanted them to know that He was their Lord and provider. Two important principles for us to understand:
- Gathering daily: We must depend on the Lord daily. You can’t store up enough of God today to last tomorrow.
- Gathering twice on the sixth day: Provision for the future is found in honoring God in all we do, even in the most basic aspects of life, like eating.
This was a test of their trust in God’s Word. Are we willing to trust God with our present and future by depending on His Word?
III.) Vs. 13-21 Get ready for supper
Vs. 13-15 God provides quail in the evening and manna in the morning. Some try to explain manna as a natural occurrence, but the Bible makes it clear that it was supernatural provision. Manna appeared consistently, five days a week, with double on the sixth day. It spoiled if kept too long except on the sixth day, and it provided for the Israelites for 40 years.
What lesson did they learn? God promises to meet the need, not the expectation. The issue was their grumbling, based on interpreting God’s character by circumstances rather than trusting His Word.
Vs. 16-21 Instructions on gathering manna:
- Gather according to need: About 2 quarts per day for each person. This aligns with Jesus’ words, “Give us our daily bread.” Trust God for daily provision.
- Check your heart: Don’t take God’s gift and turn it into an obsession. Hoarding shows a lack of trust in God’s provision.
- Trust for tomorrow: The manna that was hoarded spoiled, breeding maggots. We need to trust God for tomorrow, just as we trust Him for today.
- Be diligent and obedient: They had to gather manna each day before the sun melted it away. We must also be diligent in working with what God provides.
IV.) Vs. 22-36 Remembering to rest
Vs. 22-26 God establishes a Sabbath rest. He wants them to prioritize fellowship with Him over gathering food. Our fulfillment is not found in our work but in our relationship with God. Today, people often seek fulfillment in their careers, but there is no lasting satisfaction there—only in a relationship with Jesus.
Vs. 27-29 Despite God’s command, some went out to gather manna on the Sabbath. The Lord instructs them to remain still and rest in Him. The word “remain” here means to sit. God calls us to sit at His feet and enjoy Him.
Vs. 30-36 The final verses of this chapter emphasize the importance of remembering God’s provision. He provided manna for 40 years, and then He provided another way. Let us always remember His faithfulness in providing for our needs!