The Life of Moses (12)

The Lord showed Israel a miracle when the waters of Marah were made sweet and the thirsty ones could drink. The LORD was the Healer of Israel. After this, the people came to Elim, which was also a precious place. There they were refreshed with twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees gave them shade in the hot desert; they encamped for a little while, but then they had to continue their journey.

A grumbling people

The children of Israel came into the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. Then we read, “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.” This was the third time that they rebelled against the Lord and complained about His way. The first time was when they were standing before the Red Sea, as we read in Exodus 14:11-13. They said, “Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?” They even dared to say, “It had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.” The second time was when they had come to Marah: “And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?” (Exodus 15:24).

Now, when they were in the wilderness of Sin, they said unto Moses and Aaron, “Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Truly, the Lord was grieved with His people. How often we read in God’s Word that pilgrims could not understand or agree with the way in which the Lord led them. It was a wonder of God’s patience that the LORD said unto Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.” The word behold indicates that it was an amazing promise for an undeserving people.

Bread from heaven

Yes, the Lord led His people in an incomprehensible way. As for Moses, it required much courage to lead two million people in such a howling waste. Moses had lived for forty years in the immediate vicinity of this area, and he knew with certainty that only a series of daily miracles could meet the vast needs of such a multitude. Their sin was aggravated by an oath; they used God’s name in vain, “Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD.” This implied:

a) We could better have died in Egypt. It would be better if we had not been saved behind the blood.

b) “For ye have brought us forth…” This was a lie, for it was Jehovah and not simply Moses and Aaron that had brought them forth.

The Lord could have answered in anger and punished them. However, He said, “Behold, I will rain, no, not fire and brimstone that ye may be consumed, but ‘bread from heaven for you.’” What a marvelous grace and sovereign, unmerited favor! He gave a warning, “and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud” (verse 10b). The fire in the cloud did not go out to consume them, but God showed His holiness and majesty. In the evening the sky became dark with birds—quails—which covered the camp, “and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.” The people wondered when they saw “a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.” They had never seen this before. “They said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was.” It was bread for two million people. It was the greatest royal meal ever given. It lay outside of the camp.

A special gift

There are a few important characteristics of this gift from heaven:

1) Manna was supernatural; it came from heaven. God has given us the Scriptures.

2) Manna came right to where the people were, “round about the host.” So, the Word of God has come to us.

3) Manna was small in size. The complete revelation of God’s truth is in the Word of God and is all that is needed to make man perfect.

4) Manna was white in color. The words of the Lord are pure words. “Thy Word is very pure, therefore Thy servant loveth it.”

5) Manna was to be eaten. God’s Word is given to provide food for our souls.

6) Manna was gathered daily. We need to feed daily on God’s testimony.

In regard to this gathering, it is important that:

a) They had to gather it early in the morning before the sun rose, before it was gone. Young people—seek Him early. The manna is there especially for you when you are in your youth.

b) All did not gather the same amount. Some gathered more and some less. A child with two little hands full of manna did not have as much as older ones, but all had enough to satiate.

c) They had to get out of their tents and go outside the camp, stooping down to get it. So, we must go out to the Lord unto His Word, humbly hearing what He says.

d) The sixth day, they must gather a double provision and not gather on the Sabbath. Do not despise God’s Day, do not work on the Lord ’s Day except when it is absolutely necessary.

e) They had to bake it. If it is good, we must be active, exercised with God’s Word in our inner room, meditate upon it, and pray for God’s blessing upon it.

f) It had to be eaten; nothing could be left for the next day, otherwise, the worms would creep out of it. It is a blessing if we may daily eat from God’s Word and not be satisfied only with former experiences or rest in them.

Is God’s Word also your daily food? Is it precious to you? Christ is the Bread that came down from heaven. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for His Righteousness.

The Living Bread

It was a blessing that Moses instructed them and said, “This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.” It was necessary to be reminded of the fact that they did not earn this bread. The LORD had given it to them. Christ Himself said He is the Bread of Life that came from heaven—a wonderful Gift for hungry souls. It is true, by nature, we try to satisfy our hunger with what the world offers or, maybe, with a little religion without the tender fear of God’s name.

It is so necessary to learn that the Living Bread comes from Above, and that He alone can satisfy the hunger of a needy people.

a) This Bread is free and sufficient for all. The gospel call goes out; sinners are called to leave that which never can satisfy and come to Him. No matter how much they have sinned and how poor they are, they may buy without money and without price.

b) This Bread is exclusive, which means Christ is the only name given under heaven among men.

c) This Bread must be used daily; it is not enough to speak about Him, but this Bread must be received by faith.

d) This Bread is necessary for all. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).

e) This Bread is suited for all, for every class of people. Some cannot eat meat or sweets, but bread is suitable for all.

f) This Bread is satisfying. We may soon be tired of other food but not of bread.

g) This Bread is ready after a long process. Christ is a prepared Food: “He was bruised for our iniquities.”

This is the Lord’s provision for a wilderness people in all their strife. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna” (Revelation 2:17a). This Manna is sufficient for their journey, but when they come to the end of the journey, they will be satisfied with the fatness of His House and will be gladdened with His Presence and will see Him, God’s unspeakable Gift, as He is. May the Lord bless many with such hunger and urgency to have this Bread that they will cry for a crumb from the Master’s table as the Canaanitish woman did. How faithful is the Lord who cares for His people.

(To be continued)

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