Well, this is Exodus 16:9–36, and my title for this study is “Bread and Birds.”
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.’”
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. 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.’” And the people of Israel did so...Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank...
On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD.
I love this passage, because it has so many references to who Jesus is. But there are so many important things to pay attention to in the history here that God has recorded and preserved for our good. When you read the history of Scripture, you need to tell yourself, “There's no meaningless history in the Bible.”
First of all, you see, it takes grace to obey. These are the people God redeemed by his power. They're living in his presence, yet it seems so hard for them to just hear God's loving commands and obey. They were told not to leave any manna till the morning, but some of them did. They were told not to gather any manna on the Sabbath, but some of them did. Hear the Lord speak to the Israelites and to us, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?” Is there a day when you and I don't take life into our own hands and do what we want to do, even though God has called us to obey? It's so convicting! It's impossible for me to look down on the children of Israel in their constant struggle to just obey God because there are times when I'm just like them.
Second, in the provision of the quail, there is both God's provision and rebuke. We know from the book of Numbers that the quail that fell were three feet deep for as far as you could travel in a day's journey. Think about that. God says, “You want meat? I'll give you meat!” And if you know anything about these little birds, they are very small birds, and when cleaned, they don't yield much meat. It's a reminder to Israel of the need just to relax and trust and not judge God's faithfulness.
Third thing I want to point out is that, in these last few passages, we have seen the loving willingness of God to unleash his power for the good of his children. The creation doesn't normally rain down edible food, but God can make that happen. Quail don't just all of a sudden die in mass, but God can make that happen. And God's power is not just seen in the Old Testament, it’s most seen in the sending of Jesus, leading him to the cross, and the glory of the resurrection and the ascension. The God who unleashed His power for Israel unleashes it for us today as well!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. Even though it might be easy to read a passage like this and look down on the Israelites for their grumbling, unfaithfulness, and disobedience, in what ways and at what times do you find yourself to be just like them? How might it be confusing for you to grasp the idea that it takes the grace of God to obey God? In what ways might you currently be trying to take your life into your own hands and do what you want to do when God has specifically called you to his way?
2. In the past, have you ever found yourself judging God’s methods and ways of working in your life? How has your judging specifically expressed itself? In what ways has God’s provision in your life been confusing to you at first when it made perfect sense later on? How might reflecting on God’s past faithfulness help you in your current trials and suffering? How might it help you by trusting him in future trials that confuse you?
3. How is the ultimate expression of God’s love and power (Jesus) working in your life right now? How is he changing you? How is he working through you to help change others? How is he providing for you in ways you may not be taking the time to pause and notice? Reflect not just on the physical provisions of God in your life, but on the spiritual ones as well.
For Younger Children:
1. How can we know that God will always love us and take care of us?
2. Why do we need God’s help to be obedient to God’s rules for us? Why does obedience to God show love to God?
3. Why do you think it’s so hard for people to trust in the ways that God works in our lives? What are you going through right now that makes it hard for you to trust God?
4. Why is Jesus the best way that God ever showed us his love and power?
For Older Children:
1. Why do you think it’s important to constantly remind ourselves that God will always love us and take care of us? Why do you think human beings are so quick to forget about God’s love and power in our lives?
2. Why do you think obedience to God is a way for us to show love to God? Why do we need God’s help and grace to be obedient to him?
3. In what ways has it been tough for you to trust God for how he’s working in your life? Can you give me an example or two of how it’s been hard?
4. Why do you think Jesus is the ultimate way that God has shown us his love and power? Even when we doubt God’s ways, how can Jesus’ resurrection and ascension remind us and convince us of God’s love and power?
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