Mysty PfefferReview of Exodus Chapter 16
What do you hunger for?
We learn in our study of Exodus the wilderness is not a place of wild terrain, trees, and roaming animals. Instead, the picture is of dry barrenness and scarce resources. It is uninhabitable, with very little water or food.
The estimated million-people march through this territory causes the whole congregation of Israel to grumble against Moses and Aaron.
“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. “(16:3)
What Does Hunger Make us Forget?
Does an empty belly and not getting what they want blind them to their past slavery? Is the harsh labor from sunup until sunset so easily forgotten? Losing their newborn sons in the Nile’s murky waters is no longer a threat, but lack of food and water is. But is the past preferable? We’ll never know… until we’re that hungry.
The miracle of the Red Sea parting is fading fast in the presence of fatigue, thirst, and discouragement. As doubt sets in, the evil one whispers convincingly, “He doesn’t really care about you”. The same whisper familiar to our ears in times of spiritual famine.
Oh, but he is wrong, because God does care!
“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. (16:4)”
Although, seemingly ungrateful with the grumbling mentioned seven times in this chapter, I feel sorry for the Israelites. Looking back at the known and not-so-comfortable is easier sometimes than floundering in a new kind of difficult and unknown. God is peeling those psychological layers of false identity back like an onion, one layer at a time. It is something I can identify with easily, because he has to do it for me quite often.
It’s a hard concept to accept when they’re hungry and dehydrated. And it’s hard for me when I’m prideful.
What happens next is something they will continue to see, “The glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.” He provides the amazing bread from heaven (manna—what is it?) that tastes like honey and coriander seed. Flocks of quail also begin to encircle their camp to provide meat to eat.
It appears, instead of wrath for ungratefulness and unbelief, they majority of them are shown mercy and grace. However, that does not mean there are no consequences. Numbers chapter eleven describes God’s fury and the punishment of the “rabble” rousers as they consume the quail and a plague falls, killing many.
It is now clear, testing God is a very unwise course of action for the unbelievers of their day; however, may it also be a warning in ours.
What if We Hunger to Be More Like Christ?
It makes me wonder what we as Christians hunger for when our needs are so readily met. There is plenty to eat and drink, and we have choices that are filling and nutritious. But we often choose artificial and man-made items over God’s provision many times. If it’s not a lifestyle of convenience, it is sometimes materialism.
What if we just rested in His care and stopped reaching for things that temporarily satisfy?
I can’t help but think of Jesus telling his disciples when they returned from Samaria with food, after he spoke to the woman at the well. He said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” I have to ask myself sometimes, “When will God be enough?” The world, as you and I know it, is fading fast and freedom is changing dramatically. It’s time to look heavenward more often than earthly for my satisfaction.
Today, may we say together, “You are enough, Lord, and I hunger be more like you, every day.”
Thank you, for joining me on this journey! You can read further posts on our study of Exodus with Jen Wilkin on this site.
