Romans 1: 18-22
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
As you review the Old testament in the Bible, this is definitely evident. …
The Israelites needed to 1) Recognize that God is who He says He is and is able to do what He says He will do, 2) Realize He that He desires to have a relationship with them as their provider and protector and 3) Remember what He had done and provided for them in the past and 4) Rect on these things when they are faced with new situations or circumstances that could cause them to worry, fear or doubt the outcome. It is apparent that Israelites did fear the worst instead of remembering and reflecting on what God had done for them in the past. We can see this based on their comment “you have brought us out in this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” This statement was directed towards Moses and not God, but the Israelites appears to have forgotten all about what God had done for them up til then.
The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
How could they come up with this thought? It doesn't even make any sense. Would God have done all of the miraculous actions and events to lead the Israelites into the dessert and just allow them to starve without providing for them? Perhaps they felt this way out of frustration when they didn't see any way that they could be provided for in the wilderness. It appears that God wanted them to learn to depend on Him for their daily provisions and not look to any other source. He also wanted them to realize that He could be depended upon to provide them protection and provision. They forgot all about God and what He had previously done for them and provided for them, they only blamed and accused Moses and Aaron for their current predicament.
Also, it is interesting that the grumbling and complaining came after God had delivered the Israelites from the pursuit of the Egyptians who would have put them all to death had it not been for God's miraculous deliverance of them out of Egypt and judgment of the Egyptians. When they recounted their experiences in Egypt, they only reflected on the positive aspects of their captivity and not the negative aspects. It appears they felt better off in Egypt as opposed to the dessert based on the fact that they at least had food in Egypt. But instead of grumbling and complaining to Moses and Aaron, why didn't they just make their request know to them so that Moses and Aaron could present their request to God who loved them, cared for them and desired to protect and provide for them as was clearly shown based on His actions up til then. It is also interesting that while in Egypt the Israelites had prayed for God to deliver them out of Egypt and didn't understand why their prayers fell on death ears. At that time they weren't thinking about all the benefits of being in Egypt, only the negative and undesirable aspects of their experiences in Egypt. This is typical of human experience. We ask God to do something for us or bring a certain thing to past in our lives, but when he actually grants our request, we complain and grumble about it because it didn't turn out as we had expected. I believe a lot of our requests to God go “unanswered” for this reason, and we should be grateful that He spares us a lot of the pain and difficulty that would have resulted had He granted our request. However, sometimes He allows us to go through certain things for our own good and so we can learn to depend on Him regardless of our present circumstances or situation.
4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”
Even though the Israelites did not specifically ask God for provision, but grumbled and complained against and accused Aaron and Moses, God decided to provide for them and also test them to see if they would obey Him (follow His instructions), their God, protector, & provider and follow His instructions. God informed Moses that he would provide food for the Israelites in the form of “bread from heaven”, but gave specific instructions of how to gather it and when to gather it.
6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD.”
It appears that the Israelites believed that they were grumbling and complaining against Aaron and Moses as if they had some say in the plans and decisions of God. They let them know that if they grumbled and complained it was not against them, but God. God had brought them where they were with what they had not Aaron or Moses. They were just as much servants of God as all the rest of the Israelites. God had only decided to use them to speak for Him to the Israelites and also speak to God on behalf of the Israelites. God wanted to give them undeniable and unquestionable evidence that it was He, the living God that they grumbled and complained against and He desired to make Himself known to them by providing them meat in the evening and bread in the morning through miraculous means that only He could bring to past. God wanted the Israelites to know that He had heard their grumbling and complaining and would respond in a way that they would not be able to doubt or question that he was real, willing and able to provide for them, and would do so in a way that only He could bring to past. The gathering of quail in the evening though highly unusual and unlikely could be explained by natural means. The raining down of an unusual substance that only appeared in the morning and prevented them from storing more than specified, should have increased their faith and trust in God. Also, God had instructed them to gather twice as much on the sixth day of the week so they would have enough to eat on the seventh day without having to gather because this was to be a day of rest and they were instructed by God not to work.
9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.’”
10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.
11 The LORD said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”
10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.
11 The LORD said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”
As stated, above God wanted to provide evidence to the Israelites that He really and truly was the One true God, their Lord and the Lord of all. He manifested His glory in the cloud, he provided them quail and informed them that they would have bread in the morning. These acts should have been enough to convince the Israelites that God could be trusted to provide for them in their time of need.
13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer[a] for each person you have in your tent.’”
17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.
19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”
20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer[a] for each person you have in your tent.’”
17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.
19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”
20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
Even though God had provided for the Israelites and gave them specific instructions through Moses, some of the Israelites still chose to disregard the instructions of Moses and do as they pleased. God wanted the Israelites to accept Moses and Aaron as His mouth piece. If Moses or Aaron had instructed them to do something they should have realized that these instructions originated from God and should have been obeyed. They were not disregarding what Moses had said, but were disobeying what God had instructed them to do.
21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers[b] for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 23 He said to them, “This is what the LORD commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”
24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”
27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you[c] refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you[c] refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
The lord had to restate his instructions to the Israelites because initially they ignored them. After he restated his commandments and instructions, the Israelites followed them. The Israelites were instructed to gather a double portion of manna on the 6th day of the week and rest on the 7th day. These two instructions were ignored by some of the Israelites even though God had instructed them to obey. Some Israelites attempted to store the manna for the next day and some Israelites attempted to gather manna on the Sabbath even though God himself had instructed them not to do so. God did not immediately judge them for their disobedience however, they were not able to enjoy any of the extra manna they attempted to store and there was no manna to gather on the Sabbath. One would ask, did the Israelites really understand that God had provided for them and realize that they were disobeying him when they attempted to gather additional manna or gather at a time they were instructed not to. Didn't they fear God or have any resolve to obey him? Amazingly God's grace and mercy allowed them to enjoy the quail and manna even though they disobeyed him. It is important to point out that some did obey Him and follow His instructions. God more than likely would have provided the quail and manna to the Isrealites without their grumbling. They only needed to ask/request his provision and He would have graciously and loving heard their cries and provided for them. We could learn a lot by observing the Israelites... We should always obey God and follow His instructions. This is the best way to ensure that we receive only the best that God has for us.
I am not sure what would have happened had the Israelites not complied with God's instructions, but glad to know that we don't have to consider this scenario. A lot of times we also fail to heed the instructions of God initially. We know that our actions do not please Him, but continue to do that which is against and contrary to His will for us. He uses people, circumstances, and situations to convince and encourage us to act in a way that is pleasing to Him and cease to do those things that do not correspond to how children of the living God should act.
31 The people of Israel called the bread manna.[d] It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’” The Israelites ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.”
------God wanted the Israelites to share this event with future Israelites and preserve an omer of the manna to validate that the event did actually occur. It appears that God knew that the future Israelites would have difficulty believing that the event actually did take place so the preserved omer of manna would give undeniable proof.
So God through his actions, instructions, and consequences of disobedience wanted the Israelites to recognize He is who He is and never doubt this. Also, He wanted them to realize that He is always willing and able to provide for them and protect them because He care for them and desired the very best for them. In addition, He wanted them to remember and reflect on His past actions when they were confronted with worry, fear, doubt, concern, etc. that He is able to protect and/or provide for them in any situation or circumstances that they might face, experience or have to endure. We should also know this based on all the many trials and tribulations that God has successfully brought us through. Even though it may seem like He doesn't care, or isn't providing for or protecting us when we are dealing with certain circumstance and situations, we should know that based on past victories that God is willing and able to do and bring to past for us what is best for us and what will ensure that we become all that God desires us to be. He only desires the very best for us and ONLY does, allows, and provides those things to ensure that we grow and mature in our Christianity so that we might serve as examples to others to encourage them to maintain their faith and trust in God when they are faced with challenging, difficult situations and circumstance. All things according to His will and timing. We should realize that God's ways and timing is the very best and we should always know that He is in complete control when we feel that He isn't and doesn't care about our current situations or seeing us through them.
So God through his actions, instructions, and consequences of disobedience wanted the Israelites to recognize He is who He is and never doubt this. Also, He wanted them to realize that He is always willing and able to provide for them and protect them because He care for them and desired the very best for them. In addition, He wanted them to remember and reflect on His past actions when they were confronted with worry, fear, doubt, concern, etc. that He is able to protect and/or provide for them in any situation or circumstances that they might face, experience or have to endure. We should also know this based on all the many trials and tribulations that God has successfully brought us through. Even though it may seem like He doesn't care, or isn't providing for or protecting us when we are dealing with certain circumstance and situations, we should know that based on past victories that God is willing and able to do and bring to past for us what is best for us and what will ensure that we become all that God desires us to be. He only desires the very best for us and ONLY does, allows, and provides those things to ensure that we grow and mature in our Christianity so that we might serve as examples to others to encourage them to maintain their faith and trust in God when they are faced with challenging, difficult situations and circumstance. All things according to His will and timing. We should realize that God's ways and timing is the very best and we should always know that He is in complete control when we feel that He isn't and doesn't care about our current situations or seeing us through them.
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