Exodus 15:24 “And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”
How much does God need to do to get someone to finally trust in Him?
How many times does the Lord need to display His power, or be found faithful through the trials before He is believable?
On the heels of one of the most profound moments in human history, Israel grumbled. Three days is all it took. After watching the 10 plagues of Egypt befall Pharaoh, after being lead out of slavery by a pillar of God’s fire and a cloud by day, after walking through the Red Sea and watching the most mighty army on earth get swallowed up in a moment….all it took was 3 days.
How many times does the Lord need to display His power before His people will trust Him?
When I talk to someone who has come off the streets or had gone through a great trial in their life, they will tell me of times when it was clear God provided a way. They will speak of God’s provision, His protection, and guidance, and then with the same breath they will regress into unbelief, hatred, and fear. I suppose we are not much different than ancient Israel. We will ask God for a miracle, we will pray for a sign, or declare our hope that God will intervene in some way…but will that finally be enough for us to believe?
If you were to do a survey of all the times God intervened in peoples lives, you would never reach the end. “Why doesn’t God just appear in the clouds and proclaim His name”, the atheist will exclaim in his arrogance. But we know from history, that still wouldn’t be enough.
The command was simple…
Exodus 15:26 “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.”
- Listen….to His voice.
- Do…..what is right.
- Hear….His commandments and receive them.
The people have not been given a suggestion, nor is the way of the Lord open to interpretation. The path of the righteous has been made certain, the reward is great, and the promise is sure.
God’s people seek His will and listen to His instruction. The right way is according to God’s Word and it guides them along the path. The instruction must be heard and received, it’s one thing to know what to do, it’s another to be found obedient.
Exodus 16:2-3 “And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “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.”
What was it the people longed for? Meat pots and bread? Was that the extent of what made them happy? Once the belly is full and the fire has dimmed, is contentment finally achieved?
We know the people were not content. The cries of the people had reached the ears of the Lord while they lived in slavery. Pharaoh was murdering their children and subjecting them to forced labor. They were despised among the Egyptians and living in a land that was not their own. Meat pots and bread was only a reminder of how weak this people had become. The idols of Egypt had influenced their lives, the misery of their lives was forgotten and yet they longed for a life that once brought misery.
How many times have I watched the drug addict return to the abuse? The Lord draws them out of their misery as they cry out to Him, and then fear starts to set in. A life that is unfamiliar to them causes anxiety, they just don’t know how to live apart from their slavery to sin.
How does God respond in our weakness?
Exodus 16:4 “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.”
When the Lord acts, He acts with purpose. He doesn’t need to prove Himself, He has already been proven. The people don’t need another display of His power, they will only grow more complacent. The Lord knows their needs and He supplies them, but He does it in a way that leads them to become stronger.
Exodus 16:8 “And Moses said, “When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.”
Not only did the people receive a heavenly blessing of manna, the bread from Heaven, but they also had their meat pots filled as they longed for. God heard their cries and in His great love blessed them. They certainly hadn’t earned such a blessing, they really didn’t show any form of faithfulness, the Lord just chose to show them mercy.
The manna was only for the day, if they tried to horde it, then it would rot and spoil. Each day the Lord provided, and each day the people had to trust. Then the Sabbath day came and the Lord provided double the portion, so they didn’t have to work on His Sabbath day of rest.
What God requires, that He provides.
Exodus 16:11 “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.’”
Each moment of God’s faithfulness displays His glory. He knows our weaknesses, He knows the extent of our capabilities and He chooses to remain faithful. He is patient with us, and strengthens us along the way.
How many times will it take for us to trust Him? He deserves it. He has earned it. The least we can do is place our hope in Him.
If we will listen to His voice, do what we know is right, and respond in obedience…we will see His glory, we will know His goodness.
We have to trust Him. There is no other way.
U.T. 