Part 2 - Day 1
Read Exodus 15:22-16:36
The Israelites are now totally free from the oppression and slavery they faced in Egypt. But as we find out almost immediately, that doesn’t mean that life will be easy. There is a new challenge they are faced with as they cross the Red Sea and walk into the desert, how will we survive? The Israelites find themselves in a desert with no water (and they only water they can find is so bitter that it is undrinkable) and no food. This section of the Israelites’ story begs the question, did God bring them this far to let them starve in the desert?
Exodus 15:25
“Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.”
Of course, the God that brought them out of slavery in Egypt and defeated the Egyptian army would not let them down now. As we read this, we should see that God is so clearly trying to teach the Israelites something critical to their relationship with God. The point is this, that the Israelites can trust Him, He will provide for them. Not only does He give them water to drink, but in chapter 16 He provides bread (manna) that appeared on the ground every morning except the Sabbath. God gives them one simple commandment, only gather enough for the day. This is a test from God, do you trust me to provide for you every day? Do you believe that tomorrow when you wake up, I will still provide for you?
We quickly learn the position of the Israelites heart as we read that they stuffed their tents full of bread and tried to store it away for days to come. Ultimately, the Israelites don’t trust that God will provide for them. When the Israelites woke up, the leftover bread that they hoarded began to smell as it was rotten and full of maggots. Moses becomes angry with them for not trusting God.
You and I are faced with a similar dilemma today, God has saved you and brought you out of the spiritual slavery that had oppressed you. Now part of walking with Him is learning to trust Him, that He will always provide for you. Too often, our hearts reflect that of the Israelites as we try to take matters into our own hands. For you, maybe you recently surrendered your life to Christ and are trying to make new friends that will push you in the right direction. Will you remain patient and trust that God is still a provider? Or will you take matters into your own hands and go back these old friends? It could be your future that you’ve been praying about, you want to know where God is calling you and what it will look like. Do you trust Him enough to just take one step at a time and believe that He will provide the steps as you need them? Or will you jump ahead and try to take charge of your future?
Our Father is a provider, it’s in His nature. He will provide for you just as He did for the Israelites. However, just like in this story, trusting God’s provision takes faith. His provision rarely comes all at once. God is trying to show the Israelites how to depend on Him daily for their needs and He wants us to do the same. Today, trust that you can run to God and He will provide all that you need.
Questions to consider.
How have you seen God provide for you over the course of your life?
Where do you need to trust God’s provision more and stop taking matters into your own hands?
Wherever you are struggling to trust God, take time to pray and surrender that to Him. Ask that He would help you to trust Him more and that He would faithfully provide just like He did to the Israelites.
The Israelites are now totally free from the oppression and slavery they faced in Egypt. But as we find out almost immediately, that doesn’t mean that life will be easy. There is a new challenge they are faced with as they cross the Red Sea and walk into the desert, how will we survive? The Israelites find themselves in a desert with no water (and they only water they can find is so bitter that it is undrinkable) and no food. This section of the Israelites’ story begs the question, did God bring them this far to let them starve in the desert?
Exodus 15:25
“Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.”
Of course, the God that brought them out of slavery in Egypt and defeated the Egyptian army would not let them down now. As we read this, we should see that God is so clearly trying to teach the Israelites something critical to their relationship with God. The point is this, that the Israelites can trust Him, He will provide for them. Not only does He give them water to drink, but in chapter 16 He provides bread (manna) that appeared on the ground every morning except the Sabbath. God gives them one simple commandment, only gather enough for the day. This is a test from God, do you trust me to provide for you every day? Do you believe that tomorrow when you wake up, I will still provide for you?
We quickly learn the position of the Israelites heart as we read that they stuffed their tents full of bread and tried to store it away for days to come. Ultimately, the Israelites don’t trust that God will provide for them. When the Israelites woke up, the leftover bread that they hoarded began to smell as it was rotten and full of maggots. Moses becomes angry with them for not trusting God.
You and I are faced with a similar dilemma today, God has saved you and brought you out of the spiritual slavery that had oppressed you. Now part of walking with Him is learning to trust Him, that He will always provide for you. Too often, our hearts reflect that of the Israelites as we try to take matters into our own hands. For you, maybe you recently surrendered your life to Christ and are trying to make new friends that will push you in the right direction. Will you remain patient and trust that God is still a provider? Or will you take matters into your own hands and go back these old friends? It could be your future that you’ve been praying about, you want to know where God is calling you and what it will look like. Do you trust Him enough to just take one step at a time and believe that He will provide the steps as you need them? Or will you jump ahead and try to take charge of your future?
Our Father is a provider, it’s in His nature. He will provide for you just as He did for the Israelites. However, just like in this story, trusting God’s provision takes faith. His provision rarely comes all at once. God is trying to show the Israelites how to depend on Him daily for their needs and He wants us to do the same. Today, trust that you can run to God and He will provide all that you need.
Questions to consider.
How have you seen God provide for you over the course of your life?
Where do you need to trust God’s provision more and stop taking matters into your own hands?
Wherever you are struggling to trust God, take time to pray and surrender that to Him. Ask that He would help you to trust Him more and that He would faithfully provide just like He did to the Israelites.