GOD’S WAY OR MY WAY
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Opening Prayer
Sovereign Lord, thank you that your eyes are always focused on me and that I can trust in your loving and strong care.
Read EXODUS 16:17–30
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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.
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 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 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.
Reflect
‘Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus...’ (JH Sammis, 1887). What has been your experience doing this?The test God gives the Israelites here is whether they will follow his commands or their own inclinations concerning the manna. They are supposed to gather enough for each day and not keep any over- night. Some of them keep it overnight, and it is spoiled (vv. 19, 20). Then, when they can gather twice as much, prepare it, and keep half overnight for the Sabbath, some still go and look for it (vv. 22–27).
Both actions disobeyed God’s commands and showed a lack of trust in him. Those who didn’t do what he asked and didn’t trust him to keep providing for their needs failed the test. And they continued to fail, but God continued to provide. He provided manna until they could celebrate the Passover for the first time in Canaan (Joshua 5:10–12).
What God was doing, in providing manna for them to eat for so long, was so important that it had to be saved and preserved in a jar as a reminder for the people of how God cared for them in the wilderness (16:32–34). It was a sign of his commitment to them.
Apply
Why do you think some of the Israelites found it hard to follow God’s command? How would you encourage someone struggling to do what God wants them to do? Who is someone you can encourage today?
Closing prayer
Father, help me to willingly and even gladly follow where I know you are leading me. Help me follow with obedience, trusting you to provide everything I need.
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