Appropriately Named
Exodus 16
There are places appropriately named and places that are not. When I was in college in Pennsylvania, I would always see signs for Jersey Shore when traveling home. Two problems with the name. First, it wasn’t any where near New Jersey. In fact, it’s in the middle of Pennsylvania. Second, it’s nowhere near a seashore. Apparently the borough was named after some citizens who were originally from New Jersey.
In today’s passage, the people’s behavior fit the wilderness they were in, the wilderness of Sin. Exodus does not give a flattering portrait of the people. They were stubborn. They grumbled. And they sinned. In some ways, I find it encouraging because I can be stubborn, I grumble, and I definitely am a sinner. God didn’t give up on His people, and He still doesn’t. Isn’t that an encouraging reminder today?
It wasn’t that long ago God parted the sea with His power and destroyed the army of Egypt. And yet, here they are again grumbling to Moses and looking back to Egypt. When hard times come, it’s easy for us to do the same. To forget all God has done for us and complain about what’s not going well now. Remember this: our grumbling doesn’t bring God glory.
Despite their grumbling, God extended His grace. He provided two daily miracles. Heavenly bread in the morning and meat at night. He promised to always provide enough for them. And yet, the people disobeyed. In v. 28 it says, “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?’”
In v. 20 it says, “But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank.” The people refused to just trust God one day at a time. Make no mistake about it, our sin is stinky.
Our lives should be a sweet aroma to the Lord. How about you? Is your life stinky or a sweet aroma?
The Jews committed another sin. They were suppose to collect twice as much on the sixth day because the seventh day was a day of rest. However v. 27 tells us, “On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none.” Honor God and He will provide. Take matters into your own hands and plan on being frustrated.
Honoring the Sabbath is a big deal to God. When we choose to rest and worship one day a week and abstain from work, it shows we are trusting God. Are you staying within the boundaries of God’s Word? Do you honor the Sabbath? What better way to show that we love and trust God than to submit to His will.
Exodus 16
There are places appropriately named and places that are not. When I was in college in Pennsylvania, I would always see signs for Jersey Shore when traveling home. Two problems with the name. First, it wasn’t any where near New Jersey. In fact, it’s in the middle of Pennsylvania. Second, it’s nowhere near a seashore. Apparently the borough was named after some citizens who were originally from New Jersey.
In today’s passage, the people’s behavior fit the wilderness they were in, the wilderness of Sin. Exodus does not give a flattering portrait of the people. They were stubborn. They grumbled. And they sinned. In some ways, I find it encouraging because I can be stubborn, I grumble, and I definitely am a sinner. God didn’t give up on His people, and He still doesn’t. Isn’t that an encouraging reminder today?
It wasn’t that long ago God parted the sea with His power and destroyed the army of Egypt. And yet, here they are again grumbling to Moses and looking back to Egypt. When hard times come, it’s easy for us to do the same. To forget all God has done for us and complain about what’s not going well now. Remember this: our grumbling doesn’t bring God glory.
Despite their grumbling, God extended His grace. He provided two daily miracles. Heavenly bread in the morning and meat at night. He promised to always provide enough for them. And yet, the people disobeyed. In v. 28 it says, “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?’”
In v. 20 it says, “But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank.” The people refused to just trust God one day at a time. Make no mistake about it, our sin is stinky.
Our lives should be a sweet aroma to the Lord. How about you? Is your life stinky or a sweet aroma?
The Jews committed another sin. They were suppose to collect twice as much on the sixth day because the seventh day was a day of rest. However v. 27 tells us, “On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none.” Honor God and He will provide. Take matters into your own hands and plan on being frustrated.
Honoring the Sabbath is a big deal to God. When we choose to rest and worship one day a week and abstain from work, it shows we are trusting God. Are you staying within the boundaries of God’s Word? Do you honor the Sabbath? What better way to show that we love and trust God than to submit to His will.
Posted in Journey of Hope