Exodus 16

Father God, we thank you for this day. We will be glad and rejoice in the life, freedom and peace that You have provided for us in this new week through Your One and Only Son Christ In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Before we get to chapter 16, we see the LORD performing another miracle for the children of Israel after the Red Sea cross over. As they walked through the wilderness for three days without water, they arrived at a place called Marah that had bitter water no one could drink (Exodus 15:22). Eventually, the people complained to Moses. In turn, the LORD used Moses to make the bitter waters sweet (Exodus 15:23-25).

The children of Israel had a habit of complaining. However, from the above excerpts, we see that God did not give up on them because of their complaints. Instead, He was compassionate and loving towards them especially during this season by meeting all their needs as they journeyed to the promised land of Canaan.

I believe the LORD was patient with His people during this time because He knew they needed some time to recover from the trauma and pain caused by the bondage in Egypt. In turn, the LORD's acts of kindness through the great miracles that He performed by the hand of Moses were meant to encourage the children of Israel to solely put their trust in the LORD as He healed their hearts and fulfilled His promise of inheritance to a land flowing with milk and honey. In Exodus 15:26, the LORD made a statute and an ordinance with them and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you."

Chapter 16 starts off again with more complaining to Aaron and Moses about hunger. They said, "...Oh that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

Its interesting the children of Israel considered to settle for a miserable life with their enemies provided they were fed. This would not have been the first time nor the last time that the enemy used the lust of the flesh to pervert God's people. We see that Esau gave up his birthright to his brother Jacob when he was hungry for a morsel of bread and stew (Genesis 25:29-33) while satan also tempted Jesus while He was in the wilderness by asking Him to turn stones into bread (Matthew 4:4). If satan tempted Jesus Christ, he will tempt you too with lies that possibly have the potential to pervert you from the purposes and good plans that God has for your life if you will let him.

1 Peter 5:8 cautions all believers to "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

The good news is Jesus conquered satan when He died and resurrected from the dead. As a result this is our confidence and hope as God's children, "...If God is for us, who is against us? He did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will He not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect?" (Romans 8:31). You, child of God, are God's elect.

In the context of the children of Israel, the LORD in His infinite grace and mercy provided meat and bread for each household so that none of His children would suffer from hunger in the wilderness (Exodus 16:12). They were continually supplied with food that directly came from heaven every morning for forty years until they came to the border of their promised land of inheritance - Canaan (Exodus 16:35).

TO BE CONTINUED...

Invitation to salvation: If you would like to know this God who from the beginning of creation has always wanted you to be reunited and restored in relationship with Him through His One and Only Son Jesus Christ - whose faithful promises are yes and amen, I invite you to make this confession, "I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour today and forever."

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17). To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

As a new believer, I urge you to let your Pastor know that you took the confession of faith or if you don't have one, become a part of a church. I also encourage you to get water baptised as soon as possible and get yourself a physical copy of the Bible or download the Bible app on your mobile in case you don't already own one! If you have taken the confession of faith and would also like a physical copy of the Bible, please send us an email at info@bibleversionoflife.com with your address. We would love to hear your story. GOD BLESS.