Prepare: What bitterness, discontent and complaint do you still cherish (Psalm 66:18) in your heart?
Read: Exodus 15:22-16:9
The first complaint, on the surface, seems reasonable. A huge horde of families are travelling through the desert for three days without water. Someone is bound to grumble. When only bitter water was available, nobody could tolerate the lack of essential amenities anymore. But the complaint is obnoxious, when seen in the light of the fact that just three days earlier, they danced with joy having crossed the Red sea miraculously! (15:19-22). Do we also complain, inspite of God's constant provision? Do we lack the basic gratitude to believe that He can do more than our wildest imaginations? How do you appropriate Ephesians 3:20,21 for yourself?
The "wood" in 15:25 (or "Branch" in some translations) is a reference to the cross, the only place where bitterness can be turned to sweetness. Unusual provision indeed! But, the deliverance is conditional. Only if we obey God's statutues, we can escape the plagues that the Eyptians faced. That is why God said to Saul, "To obey is better than to sacrifice." (I Sam 15:22).
The second complaint about food was an attack on Moses' leadership, for a situation for which Moses was not responsible, inspite of clear evidence of his leadership (14:31). To complain against the servant of the Lord is to complain against God. Do you also complain against your leaders and pastors? Do you set people against them subtly and work for their elimination? Or do you stand by them in difficult times?
Respond: Take sometime to pray for your pastors and leaders. Make sine decisions to stand with them.
Read: Exodus 15:22-16:9
The first complaint, on the surface, seems reasonable. A huge horde of families are travelling through the desert for three days without water. Someone is bound to grumble. When only bitter water was available, nobody could tolerate the lack of essential amenities anymore. But the complaint is obnoxious, when seen in the light of the fact that just three days earlier, they danced with joy having crossed the Red sea miraculously! (15:19-22). Do we also complain, inspite of God's constant provision? Do we lack the basic gratitude to believe that He can do more than our wildest imaginations? How do you appropriate Ephesians 3:20,21 for yourself?
The "wood" in 15:25 (or "Branch" in some translations) is a reference to the cross, the only place where bitterness can be turned to sweetness. Unusual provision indeed! But, the deliverance is conditional. Only if we obey God's statutues, we can escape the plagues that the Eyptians faced. That is why God said to Saul, "To obey is better than to sacrifice." (I Sam 15:22).
The second complaint about food was an attack on Moses' leadership, for a situation for which Moses was not responsible, inspite of clear evidence of his leadership (14:31). To complain against the servant of the Lord is to complain against God. Do you also complain against your leaders and pastors? Do you set people against them subtly and work for their elimination? Or do you stand by them in difficult times?
Respond: Take sometime to pray for your pastors and leaders. Make sine decisions to stand with them.
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