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More Exodus commentaries
Exodus 16:1-12
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Exodus 16:1-12
© Family Times | About Us | Donate | Contact Us
Search for sermons by: Commentaries | Scripture search | Topics
Exodus 16:1–12
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
A heavy wagon was being dragged along a country lane by a team of oxen. The axles groaned and creaked terribly, when the oxen turning around thus addressed the wheels, “Hey there, why do you make so much noise? We bear all the labor, and we-not you-ought to cry out!” Th … More
The wilderness of Sin was the perfect place for God to test and shape the character of His people. One month after their departure from Egypt Israel lacked sufficient food, but instead of trusting the Lord they complained (vv. 1-2). The lack of bread caused the people to forget their horrible situation in Egypt and to think only on the food they had back there (v. 3). The Israelites didn’t really want to go back to Egypt, They just wanted life to get a little easier in the pressure of the moment.
As the Israelites encountered danger, shortages, and inconvenience they complained bitterly. God heard their complaints. He loved them and He wanted them to learn to trust Him. He told Moses that He would rain bread from heaven for them (vv. 4-5) but in the process He decided to test their obedience by including some detailed instructions. Moses then went to the people and told them that God was going to give them food and there was certain instructions for them to follow (vv. 6-8).
At that point they looked toward the wilderness where the pillar of cloud hung in the sky (vv. 9-10). As they watched, the cloud began to glow and shine with a wonderful light. It was His way of showing the people that He was going to send them food (vv. 11-12).
Remember that there were between two and three million people that were there in the wilderness. It took a lot of food for them. He knew that every day they would be hungry and every day they would need to be fed. How would you have feed them?
Application
It is very important that I am happy with what the Lord has provided for me each day and not complain like the children of Israel did?
Exodus 16:1-12 (English Standard Version)
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?" And Moses said, "When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him--what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD." Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, 'Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.'" And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. And the LORD said to Moses, "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.'"
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