2/22

Exodus 16:4

⁴Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

Forty-five days into their journey out of Egypt, the people began complaining to Moses about the lack of food. They hadn't realized that God was the provider. Once again they impugned Moses' motives when they basically said, "Why did you bring us out here to starve us?" Instead of looking to God for His supply, they looked to Moses. God was ever so patiently teaching them as a nation to look to Him to supply all their needs. He was teaching them to listen to Him and obey Him with complete trust. That is in our best interest.

The test was to see if they would listen. It is one thing to hear and another to really listen. They heard Moses tell them to only gather enough for each day and on the sixth day to gather for two days and gather none on the seventh, but some did not listen to him. Just in case God lied about daily provision, they gathered extra, which rotted by the next morning. And on the seventh day, some people went out to gather it even though Moses specifically ordered them not to do so. It looks like they figured it was a natural phenomenon and ignored God's instructions. That's a common practice of man.

Jesus reminded His listeners of this account and declared that He is the true bread from heaven (John 6:31-33). To be in Him is the only way to walk in God's law. This is our test today. Will we listen to Him? Will we partake of Him each day and take time to rest in Him as well. Or will we consider Him a natural person and try to use Him to meet our need but refuse to listen to Him?

Consider: God said to Jesus' closest disciples, "This is my beloved Son; listen to Him!" (Mark 9:7)