📅 February 8: Exodus 16 - Manna from Heaven: God Provides in the Wilderness

Daily Bible Readings February
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:date: February 8: Exodus 16 - Manna from Heaven: God Provides in the Wilderness

:earth_africa: Introduction

In Exodus 16, we journey alongside the Israelites as they trek through the wilderness only to fall into despair and question their leader, Moses. But God, unwavering in His promise, showers their path with sustenance from the heaven – the Manna and Quail.

:desert: Struggle in the Wilderness

Just a month after escaping Egypt, the Israelites started to grumble against Moses and Aaron out of hunger. They wished they had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt, where they sat around pots of meat and ate their fill of bread. Their quick turn to despair paints a picture of human’s fickle faith.

:scroll: Key Verse:
Exodus 16:4 - “Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.”

:bread: Manna From Heaven: God Provides

God heard their grumbling and sent bread from heaven - manna. In addition to the daily manna, God provided quail as means for meat. In God providing daily bread, He taught them trust and obedience, providing ‘double portions’ ahead of the Sabbath.

:sparkles: Key Themes and Reflections

God as Our Sustainer: One key theme we see played out in Exodus 16 is God’s role as our sustainer. Despite their complaints, God provided for the Israelites daily. This teaches us about God’s faithful provision, even in the wilderness seasons of our lives - quite a crucial refreshment for our modern, often demanding lives.

:bulb: Today’s Application

Look for manna in your life today - the gifts God provides - not only material, but also spiritual and emotional, like peace, joy and guidance. Learn to trust in God’s daily provision.

:mag: Hidden Gem

‘Manna’ means “what is it?” The Israelites weren’t sure what they were being fed, yet they accepted it. This mirrors how we often encounter unfamiliar God-provided blessings and should graciously acknowledge and accept them.

:thought_balloon: Reflective Q&A

:question: Why did God choose Manna and Quail to feed the Israelites?
A: God was teaching the Israelites about His providence and sufficiency. He provided what was needed, when it was needed.

:question: What can we learn about gratitude from Exodus 16?
A: Despite their complaints, when God provided, the Israelites recognized it as a blessing. We too should always recognize and thank God for His daily blessings.

:speech_balloon: Join the Discussion:
Reflect on the times that God has provided for your needs. Share your testimonies with us and encourage others in their walk of faith.

:date: See You Tomorrow in Exodus 17, 18
We’ll dive into the first mention of Amalek, who’ll play a recurring role in Israelite history and how Moses shows the power of intercessory prayer. Stick around!

Carry the memory of the manna God brings into your life daily and keep on trusting His provision!

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Exodus 16
It was only a month after leaving the land of Egypt, having seen their Father manifested through the miracles that were performed for their salvation and redemption, and the dramatic destruction of the armies of Pharaoh which perished in the sea, that we read, “the whole congregation murmured against Moses and Aaron.” How typical of flesh! They forgot the amazing power of Yahweh in the plagues of Egypt; ignored the wonderful dividing of the great waters of the sea; and manifested an intolerance to the development of faith. Their attitude was similar to the prophecy of Peter concerning the congregation of the Last Days, who say “Where is the promise of his coming?” In so saying (although the words might be in the heart and not audible!) people ignore the great work of Yahweh in the affairs of the nations. The events of the Exodus are for our benefit and learning. Rom 15:4 states “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” The chapter reveals the faithlessness of the redeemed nation: [1] Hunger at the Wilderness of Sin: vv. 1-3. [2] Meat and bread supplied: vv. 4-8. [3] Glory of Yahweh seen and heard: vv. 9-12. [4] Quails and Manna supplied: vv. 13-15. [5] Instructions regarding the Manna: vv. 16-21. [6] Instructions regarding the Sabbath: vv. 22-26. [7] Regarding Sabbath-breaking: vv. 27-30. [8] Manna described: v. 31. [9] The Memorial Pot of Manna: vv. 32-36. The Israelites had just partaken of the sweet water at Elim. How soon they forgot! Again Yahweh promises to supply them with their needs, this time with meat and bread (vv. 4-8), but before they received the natural food, they were shown the Glory of Yahweh (v. 10) as they looked toward the wilderness! They were being shown that He would lead them through difficult and hard times. They then received flesh in the evening and spent a night of darkness before awaking to receive the bread from heaven the next morning, which they didn’t recognise as the bread from heaven (cp. Mat. 21:10; John 6:35). And this blessing remained with them during their forty years wandering, only to conclude when they entered the Promised Land (Josh. 5:12), typical of our walk of probation, awaiting the advent of immortality when we will become the fulness of the Word made flesh. The gathering of the bread in v. 18 shows another miracle; they all received what they needed. The record specifically reveals that on the sixth day they had to gather double, so that on the Sabbath they would have sufficient. Similarly, on the threshold of the kingdom, we need to gather enough of the Bread of life to sustain us, until he come – and then we will have a “double portion” which represents eternity. It is significant, also, that there were three types of manna, reflected in the three stages of the tabernacle building: from the daily bread to eternity: the probation of today; the food of the resurrection; and the ultimate power of immortality. — Logos.