Finding Manna in the Wilderness (Exodus 16:1-18)
Exodus 16:1-18 (NIV)
16 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”
6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “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. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”
9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”
10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.
11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”
13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’”
17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little.18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.
August 2018 Deployment Sermon Notes
One of the things that quickly became very apparent after beginning my government sponsored camping trip is just how important food is to the health and well-being of a military organization. The morale of service members is directly tied to the quality and quantity of meals available at any given moment.
Of course, the staff running the dining facility faces a constant struggle of trying to please the widest variety of tastes and nutritional needs possible. They are already in a challenging position, because every person has a different opinion and, being military members, is usually not shy about sharing that opinion. It is hard enough to please people when times are good. If something were to happen to the supply or quality of that food, life could easily become unbearable for the DFAC personnel, even if the situation were completely beyond their control.
Six verses make all the difference
What is true for a modern institution like the United States Air Force was also true for the Hebrew people. Just a few chapters earlier Moses had led these slaves to freedom. God had used him to rain down plagues on Egypt, go head to head with Pharaoh, and part the Red Sea. Moses’ own sister Miriam sang a song of celebration for all that God had done through her brother. The beautiful words to that song continue to be used in worship to this day.
Things changed quickly, however, when the food started to run out. Six verses and six weeks into the journey the people began to grumble against the very prophet who had provided their liberation. Complaints started and morale plummeted. There was even a plan to voluntarily return to servitude and oppression in exchange for the meager rations the Egyptians had provided.
God is faithful despite our faithlessness
Fearing a revolt, Moses and Aaron took their complaints to God. They reminded the newly freed nation that the same God who brought them to the wilderness would be the one who would take them through the wilderness. This provision in the desert would come despite the people’s faithlessness. Manna and quail would come. Their stomachs would be filled. Everyone would have enough.
The sermon reminded the congregation that this story is not about the faithfulness of the Hebrew people. It is about the faithfulness of God.
Because God is faithful, manna still comes to us in the wilderness of our lives today, despite our faithlessness. During the worship service we shared testimonies about the way that manna was being provided to us here in the desert. People told stories of the way that friendships being established, spiritual disciplines being rediscovered, and lives recommitted to walking in the way of Christ. We encouraged each other to continue depending on God’s provision here and to have the courage to follow him through the wilderness even when turning back seems like such a promising option.
OPSEC/Air Force disclaimers:
While sharing some particular moments from my government sponsored camping trip, I need to mention a concept that the Air Force refers to as OPSEC, or operational security. Essentially, it is a modern way of saying “loose lips sink ships.” Travel dates, my location, and the details of what I am doing are all going to remain unsaid in this forum and on social media. Instead, I am going to occasionally share generalized “day in the life of a chaplain” posts that are produced in conversation with our unit’s public affairs folks. Please understand if there are certain questions or topics that I refrain from discussing in this particular setting.
This blog is produced on my own time using personal equipment. No Air Force or DOD endorsement is implied.
Niece and nephew disclaimer:
Two of my nieces and nephews are old enough to understand the meaning of deployment. On the other hand, four of my nieces and nephews are still young enough that what I am doing is hard to comprehend. One of my goals with these posts is to give them a better understanding of the experience, but to do so in a way that is age and OPSEC appropriate. Many of my posts will include pictures of stuffed animals, pets, and their favorite action figures. This approach is by no means meant to downplay the seriousness of the job that our Airmen are doing. It is intended to help four particular young people understand why their uncle has disappeared for a while, and to give them a sense of what I, and the people with whom I serve, are up to.
