Part Two, Have We Also Tested God?

The Journey continues…

The next two instances where the Israelites tested God’s provision are found in the following verses from Exodus: 16:18-20 and 16:27.

Exodus 16:18-20 states, “But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered more had nothing left over, and whoever gathered less had no lack. Each gathered as much as they could eat. Moses said, ‘Let no one leave any of it over until the morning.’ But they did not listen. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. Moses was angry with them.”

Exodus 16:27, “On the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather, but they found none”.

Once again, they grumbled against Moses and Aaron for bringing them into the desert. However, in truth, they were grumbling against the Lord. In response to their grumbling, the Lord sent Mana.

The Israelites certainly seem to be prone to grumbling. But I suppose we sometimes do the same.

But I don’t want to…

I don’t like…

It’s too hard…

And so on.

But I digress:)

Moses had instructed them on how to gather the mana each day, including how to gather enough for the Sabbath, since the Sabbath was a day of rest. He warned them that it would not be found in the field, but they went and checked anyway. Moses confronted them for refusing to obey the Lord’s commandments.

“But they did not listen.”

Oh, the problems or difficulties I could have avoided if I’d just listened.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes my pride and stubbornness get in the way.

Instead of trusting in God and not leaning on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) I take matters into my own hands and want things to go the way I want.

I also have to have a backup plan, just in case.

Perhaps that’s what the Israelites were doing? They hadn’t come to know the Lord very well. They weren’t sure they could trust in His trustworthiness. So, they kept a little for the next day, just in case. They went out to look for more on the Sabbath, just in case. 

Perhaps, when the “just in case” blues hit us, we can recall this promise from Philippians 4:19: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Next, let’s consider Exodus 17:1-3. 

The Israelites had moved from the wilderness of Sin to Rephidim, but there was no water. They quarreled with Moses, demanding water. He questioned their test of God, but they grumbled, accusing him of bringing them up from Egypt to kill them with thirst. How easily they forgot that when they cried out for thirst before the Lord provided and made the bitter water drinkable.

But not only were they quarreling with Moses, they were also grumbling against God. In Exodus 17:7, they even questioned whether God was with them or not!

Have you ever done that? I know I have.

Where are you, God?

Don’t you see?

Don’t you care?

Why am I going through this?

Why didn’t you stop me?

How long must I endure?

When I ask these types of questions during difficult times, I find comfort in the following verses. Perhaps you can too.

Psalm 139:7-12, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.’”

Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

And Psalm 77:19, “Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.”

Just to name a few.

These verses remind us that we are never alone. God is always with us, even when we can’t see Him.

So far, I have shared six of the ten times Israel tested God in the wilderness. There are four more to go, so stay tuned!