04-11-2010
Background Passage: Exodus 15:22-18:27
Lesson Passage: Exodus 16:2-4, 11-15, 18, 32-34
Biblical Truth: The Lord tests His people to prove their devotion to Him and strengthen their faith.
(All of the test questions passed out Sunday morning have been posted seperately, along with the answer key. Again, this test is apparently a common one given by Bible professors at the beginning of the semester to see where the class is.)
1. How many people like taking tests?
This one is fun because there's no pressure and no grade, but who likes real tests, whether they be in school or medical, etc?
2. What is the reason for such negative feelings associated with tests?
*** Fear of the results
*** Requires sacrifice (preparation, study, etc)
*** Forces recognition of weakness
3. With such feelings about test, why do they exist? What is the purpose?
*** To find out where more focus is necessary
*** To know what steps to take next
*** To set standards
There may be people that are looking at the test I passed out and realizing that maybe it’s time to beef up the Bible study. Maybe it takes a test like this to point out exactly how much we don't know. If there is any conviction involved here, get to it!
Speaking of Bible study, I want to strongly encourage everyone again to pick up a Learner Guide from the classroom. Reading the book of the Bible that we're studying as a class on Sundays benefits us in three specific ways:
1. It makes sure that we’re all in the same place as far as understanding the background behind the lessons.
2. It keeps us on the same page as a class, uniting us through what we’re learning, and allowing us to discuss with each other as we study.
3. It holds us accountable for studying our Bible each week.
I've quoted it a few times before, and I'm sure I will again. 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 says:
“All scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
We cannot expect to grow and develop in our understanding of God and relationship with Him if we completely neglect His word.
Today we’re in Exodus chapter 16, and we’re watching the Israelites continue their travel through the wilderness.
Where we pick up is after the amazing show of God's power in Egypt as He sent the plagues.
It is after the pillars of cloud by day and fire by night have already appeared.
It’s after the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians as they were crushed by the sea that God split wide open.
It’s after they found that they had nothing to drink and God sweetened the bitter water and then led them to Elim where there were twelve springs coming from the ground.
Keep these things in mind as we go ...
(Read verses 1-4)
I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought what I thought after reading this passage. Yes, the Desert of Sin was a vast desert of sand and stone. There was no food, no water, and nothing to shield the people from the sun. It was a hardcore place, yes, but come on!! Israelites, after seeing everything that you've seen ... after having witnessed the power of God over and over again ... after everything that has taken place over the past two months, nevermind the last 400 years as you've been protected as a people ... what is with the grumbling and complaining?? Do you not YET know that God is going to provide??
The more I thought about it though, I began to feel a little bit convicted. How much grumbling and complaining do I do for MUCH less?
I get an attitude when I have a hard day at work!
This is the same work God has provided me to be able to financially support my family. I complain about the job I have that allows my wife to stay home with my children – a job that I can actually walk to!
I grumble and complain when I get caught in traffic … ON MY WAY BACK FROM VACATION.
We have not only our own experiences of God’s power, mercy, love, and provision, but 66 books that give account of the same, and many of us – myself included - grumble and complain not once per two months, but daily! Clearly, it is arrogance to judge the Israelites here.
When the Israelites were brought out of Elim and into the Desert, they had already reeled against Moses and Aaron (God) several times. The very first time, God could easily have said “you know what, I’m finished with you people.” Wouldn’t the human reaction be to do just that? “After everything I’ve done for you!” But He didn't.
What was God’s purpose for continuing this journey with them?
God’s patience and mercy are astounding to me when I read this passage. And if we’re to accept (as we must) that we show the same disrespectful ungreatfulness, we should be on our faces thanking God for who He is ... daily. Look at this…
God guides and protects this group of people (us), without fail, through extreme difficulty and challenge. Over and over, He flexes His muscle for all of them (us) to see. Almost immediately, they (we) turn around and say “you should have let us die in Egypt." And what does God do? He tells Moses (us) that He’s going to rain down bread from heaven for them (continue to provide in amazing ways)!
Stop and think about how contradictory that is to our thinking. This is the God we serve.
Along with this promise of provision comes what though?
A TEST.
What was the test?
*** Don’t store up food ... take only what you need. The bigger picture: "TRUST ME."
Similarly to when God was preparing His people for the exodus from Egypt, He tells them to take only what they need for the day. What would be the obvious temptations that could fail this test for them?
*** "We should prepare for tomorrow in case God only provides for today."
(Read verses 11-12)
Here, God amazes once again with His patience.
“Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.” Again, my initial reaction: “Then they will know? Shouldn’t they already know?” SHOULDN'T WE ALREADY KNOW?
(Read verses 13-18)
A couple of quick things about the reading:
1. An “omer” is about two quarts.
2. The word manna sounds very much like the Hebrew words translated “what is it?”
3. Some Bible students have identified manna as an excretion of a particular insect in the Sinai wilderness. The insect consumes the juices of fruit from the tamarisk trees, and produces a yellowish-white flaky substance. In the early morning the flakes can be gathered, but as the day goes on, the sun’s heat melts the flakes away. This is still eaten by people in the area today, tastes a lot like honey, and is a good source of carbohydrates and sugars. A very biological explanation, but the fact remains it apparently did not exist before this point in history.
Unbelievable provision. Quail and these honey-flavored wafers would have been a delicacy even to those not traveling through the wilderness.
By the way, does anybody else find it amazing that God actually created a food here? We don’t have any problem acknowledging that God creates ingredients like wheat, sugar cane, and plants that grow fruits and vegetables, but this is something that had never been seen before – already prepared "bread"!
(Read verses 32-34)
I had a difficult time meshing this with the rest of the lesson until I read back over the entire lesson again. What would the purpose be of God wanting this reminder to be kept for the generations to come?
***To help the coming generations pass the test!
Just like a teacher does not test his students in order to fail them, God does not desire to throw things in front of us to trip us up. He wants us to pass! By passing the tests, we grow in loyalty to Him. We become closer to Him. We grow stronger in Him.
Since we’re talking about tests, I wanted to point something out. It’s not a difficult concept, and not one that we're specifically dealing with in the passage, but one that may be important to focus on for a second ...
An old friend of mine once told me of how he had received a test from God. One night, as he was hanging out in a local gay club that he frequented, he was tempted to take someone home with him for the night. He was quite proud of himself for remaining strong and passing the test. Even I, far from God at the time, knew something was off about that.
Not all difficult circumstances come as tests from God. Temptations to act immorally do not come from God.
Disobedience brings us into difficult situations. These are not tests from God, but temptations from Satan.
I just wanted to throw that out there so that there's no confusion about what I'm teaching here.
There are also difficulties and tragedies that simply constitute part of life in a sinful world. Whatever the source of our difficulties, we are to demonstrate loyalty to God.
Here are a couple of questions in closing:
1. Why didn’t God supply the manna before the Israelites became desperate for food?
2. Would the Israelites have appreciated the provision they received more had they faithfully waited rather grumbling and complaining?
***God provides even when we grumble, but we lose out on joy and peace along the way!
3. What tests are you in right now? Are you passing? Are you remaining loyal in those areas or are you grumbling and complaining.
