EXODUS 16:1-36 Grace amidst Grumbling

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Dwight Davis
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1 EXODUS 16:1-36 Grace amidst Grumbling Review The Song of Moses and the Israelites (15:1), also known as The Song at the Sea, is composed of two major sections. The first recounts the PAST exodus from Egypt, which was so miraculously accomplished by Yahweh (15:1-12). The second section looks forward to the FU- TURE conquest of Canaan, which He will graciously bring about because of His faithfulness to His covenant promises (15:13-18). Two key verses from each section are as follows: Past: Your right, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy (15:6). Future: In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling (15:13). No wonder the Israelites could so vivaciously and vigorously praise God in the PRESENT, in light of all He has done in the PAST and all that He will do in the FUTURE! Initially it seems a bit odd that God s people would sing of His burning anger (15:7) in a jubilant song of praise! However, they were well aware of the ruthless Egyptian army that was hot on their trail: I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them (15:9). These oppressors not only sought revenge, but the enemy boasted arrogantly of their bloodthirsty conquest. The Israelites rejoiced, not so much in Egypt s downfall, as their own miraculous rescue. Praise was entirely appropriate under the circumstances any one of us would have done the same. What a blessed memory that so vividly pictured Yahweh s tender care and mighty power in rescuing His children and providing for their every need. Yet this memory is fading fast, as they for three days they traveled in the desert without finding water (15:22). They saw water in the distance, but it was too much for them when they discovered in Mara that they could not drink its water because it was bitter (15:23). As a result, the people grumbled against Moses (15:24). It was normal for these people (or anyone for that matter!) to voice their concern and complain about such a dire and desperate situation. However, the word grumbled (lûn) here has a very negative connotation and reflects an attitude of unbelief. The two words against Moses focus upon this rebellious attitude toward God s appointed leader. This does not mean that we are never to complain about anything. This grumbling refers to unbelieving griping which seriously doubts God s provision for His people and eventually leads to rebellion against the Lord and His will. How soon the Israelites have forgotten the miracle of the exodus! We can certainly ask ourselves these questions: How could God have allowed for His people to become so thirsty in the first place? If He really loved them, why didn t He give them water earlier? The answer is that there He tested them (15:25). He wanted them to do what is right in His eyes (15:26), not their own. Yahweh wanted them to be totally convinced He has control of all things, especially water as in the first plague and the parting of the sea! If they would but trust Him and lean on His grace, mercy, and love, then they would not experience any of the diseases (i.e., ten plagues) that He had brought on Egypt (15:26). True they would get sick, suffer, and eventually die, but Yahweh would in no way pour out His judgment in wrath on His own people as He did with the arrogant and unbelieving Egyptians. How can they be assured of this? Because of this promise: I am Yahweh, who heals you.

2 General Observations on Exodus 16:1-36 There are fifteen commands in this passage: - Say to the entire Israelite community (16:9). - Come before the LORD (16:9). - Tell them... (16:12). - Take an omer for each person you have in your tent (16:16). - So bake what you want to bake (16:23). - Boil what you want to boil (16:23). - Save whatever is left (16:23). - Keep it until morning (16:23). - Eat it today (16:25). - Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath (16:29). * - Take an omer of manna (16:32). - Keep it for the generations to come (16:32). - Take a jar (16:33). - Put an omer of manna in it (16:33). - Then place it before the LORD (16:33). Verse 9 contains a general and important command for the Israelites to present themselves to Yahweh. Verse 29 is even more significant, however, because it focuses on Yahweh s gracious gift of the Sabbath. They are to depend upon Him and receive/rejoice in His loving provision, rather than depending upon their own initiative and resources. The key words are grumbled (16:2, 7, 8, 9, 12), test (16:4), and know (16:6, 8, 12). Other key words include glory (16:7, 10), angry (16:20), and rest/sabbath (16:23, 25, 26, 29). Exodus 16:1-12 The Deed: Grumbling about Food 16:1 The Desert of Sin is probably to be identified with the modern Debbet er Ramleh, a sandy tract of land north of the Gebel Musa. This puts it in a direct line between Elim and Sinai. Sin probably comes from the word thorn bush, and has nothing to do with our English word sin. (Beware of any wild typology here!) The fifteenth day of the second month is one month after they had left Egypt (see the first month in 12:2, the fourteenth day in 12:6, at midnight right before the fifteenth day in 12:29, the intention of Pharaoh to go after the Israelites during the night in 12:31). The point of this chronological detail is to realize that these Israelites bitterly complained at least three times since they have left Egypt (see 14:11-12; 15:24; 16:2-3). They are definitely suffering from spiritual short-term memory loss of all Yahweh has done for them! 16:2 The Israelites had grumbled (lûn) earlier in 15:24. 16:3 The Israelites long for Egypt, but have forgotten how they desperately cried out to the LORD to be delivered from that land of slavery: The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and He remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob (2:23-24). How could they really think that Yahweh would let them starve to death? He had just miraculously quenched their thirst at Mara and then provided them with twelve springs of refreshing water at Elim (16:25-27)! Yahweh s and Moses patience with these griping, grouchy, grumbling people is nothing short of remarkable!!

3 16:4-5 What is so surprising at this point is that Yahweh issues forth no harsh word of criticism, let alone some act of judgment that the ungrateful Israelites have so justly merited. Yahweh truly is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love (Psalm 145:8; see also Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 103:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3). 16:4 A test (nāsāh) was mentioned earlier in 15:25. Bread from heaven refers to God s supernatural provision and cannot refer to the tamarisk manna which is found in relatively small quantities during the months of June and July. 16:5 On the sixth day there is a need to gather twice as much, since the next day is the Sabbath (see 16:23-26, 29). The Sabbath is based upon the seventh day of creation recorded in Genesis 2: :6-8 The answer that Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites is quite impressive, illustrating the following principles of communication and handling conflict: #1 Look back to the past: In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt. #2 Look to the future: And in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because He has heard your grumbling against Him. #3 Look to the object of the complaint: Who are we, that you should grumble against us? #4 Look to the concern and provision of God: You will know that it was the LORD when He gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against Him. #5 Look to the spiritual implications of complaining: Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD. 16:7, 10 Glory (kabōd) in verse 7 refers generally to the manifestation of God s presence, as will be evident in the coming of manna (16:13). Later glory in verse 10 refers specifically to the pillar of cloud first mentioned in 14:19. The Israelites are not to get bogged down with difficult circumstances, but need to realize God is there for them whether they see Him or not! 16:11 This verse brings out three spiritual truths: [1] Yahweh s awareness of our problems ( I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites ), [2] Yahweh s provision for our needs ( At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread ), and [3] Yahweh s ultimate purpose for us ( Then you will know that I am the LORD your God ). Exodus 16:13-36 The Need: Hungering for Yahweh 16:13 Quail have flown north in vast numbers over the Red Sea (typically done in March- April) and are exhausted from their long journey. 16:15 What is it? (mān hû ) is where the name manna (16:31) comes from. In 16:4 it is appropriately called bread [mān] from heaven. This question reflects the people s pleasant surprise, wonder, and curiosity. 16:16 An omer is about two quarts and a little over two liters. 16:17-20 The majority of the Israelites did as they were told, yet some of them paid no attention to Moses due to their stubborn unbelief and spiritual insecurity. Moses was truly justified in becoming angry with them in light of all that Yahweh had done for them.

4 16:23 The Sabbath day (from Friday evening until Saturday evening) was a day to be specially set apart ( holy ) for God s people to take delight in God rather than being caught up in their own routine. This is another special provision that Yahweh has given to His people. Both slaves and ex-slaves need R & R in the Lord! He delights in granting them rest in Him. 16:28 You is plural here. 16:29 The end quotation mark may end at 16:28 instead of this verse. QUESTION: Was it fair for the LORD to criticize Moses in 16:28 for the people s disobedience? Could Moses have done anything differently to prevent this from happening? ANSWER: Moses is not at fault for some Israelites disobedience, and God is not criticizing him in 16:28. This is indicated by the usage of the plural you in this verse. The LORD is simply telling Moses about His displeasure with these people (note the stinging rhetorical question) and wants him to pass this information on to the Israelite community. I argue that in 16:29 Moses immediately does this, since there is a switch from the first person My in 16:28 (the LORD speaking) to the third person in reference to the LORD (Moses speaking). (It is highly unlikely that the LORD would say My and then right after that refer to Himself as the LORD and He. ) Therefore, Moses obediently carries out in 16:29 what the LORD is concerned about in 16:28. 16:31 Coriander seed is white and is used for seasoning and the manufacture of oil. 16:31-33 The text notes that the people of Israel called the bread manna, and Moses wisely took a jar of manna to be kept for the generations to come to recall God s gracious provision for His people. However, there is something sadly lacking in this entire narrative There is no word of thanks to Yahweh whatsoever! No wonder so many problems! 16:34-35 These verses refer to events that will occur in the future. The Testimony (the Ten Commandments) is a shortened form for the phrase ark of the Testimony which is later revealed to Moses as part of the construction of the Tabernacle (see 25:16; 30:36; 31:18). The forty years refer to Israel s wilderness wanderings recorded in the book of Numbers. Obviously, then, these verses were written some time after these events and were appropriately added by Moses to the present narrative. Application It seems incredible that after all the miracles that have been performed, some Israelites would still disobey God s instructions. How could they have forgotten these tremendous works so soon? (It has only been a month since the exodus.) This shows me that there are many who appear to be God s people and claim to follow Him, but really have hardened hearts and reject His ways. It reminds me of this saying, Going to church doesn t make you a Christian anymore than going to McDonald s makes you a hamburger! At times I hear people complain that there are so many hypocrites in the church. Well, in a sense, that is true. There certainly are people who profess to be Christians but are truly unregenerate and separated from God. Some of these people are so blinded by their own sins and rebellion that they don t even realize their lost condition. This truth helps me in these three ways: [1] I can wisely tell critics that there are many people who attend church who are not right with God, but that fact should not prevent them from doing so. [2] I need to firmly yet lovingly exhort professing believers to make sure that they are truly in a right, saving relationship with the Lord. [3] I need to realize that it is only by His grace that I am saved and have a heart that longs to follow after Him and His ways.

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