Water. Manna. Meat.
God’s hand moved His people from a place of slavery and servitude to a place of dependence and provision. The Israelite people–led by Moses–made their way through the impossible–crossing the Red Sea–and were now headed for the land promised to their forefather long ago. Not only was their enemy defeated, but God began to display how He provides despite their attitude. Multiple times they grumbled and despite all this God met their most basic needs…
“So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” “…the Lord showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet.”
Exodus 15:24, 25b
“The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” “…Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you…”
Exodus 16:2-3, 4a
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”
Exodus 16:11-12
Our canvas of the biblical storyline has shifted its focus now to a certain people group that God chose among all the people to be His conduits of blessing to all people. However, just like their family before them they are just as quick to forget that God’s supply is sufficient. They grumble, they complain, and they want to return to their “old life,” even if it means a life of slavery.
Can you relate to them? I can. Especially because I don’t like pain, I don’t like to lose control, and I easily forget God’s past provisions. It’s pretty safe to say that this is the story of all humanity. We all like sheep have gone astray. We’re just seeing it front and center with these Israelites, but there are seasons and periods of great doubt in our own lives that can blind us to the myriad ways God has demonstrated His provision. As the biblical story continues to unfold, we’ll see how there was One whose path was quite different–in fact, in every way different to ours and these Israelites–and it will reveal another reason why Christ had to die.
We may not see water turn sweet to drink or bread from heaven to eat, but we have seen how God has supplied far more than our hungry stomachs and parched mouths could ever imagine. God has made a way to meet our greatest need through His Son–He has, through Christ, opened the door of hope, the window of life, and the portal to eternal fellowship with the Father. God has, through His Son, made a way where there was otherwise no way.
What if today we remembered God’s provision for life with God through Christ? What if the little inconsistencies and insufficiencies in life pointed us to the ultimately consistent and completely sufficient Christ? O, may it be!
— January 20, 2017