Exodus Chapter 16: Verses 4-5
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. 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.’
Exodus Chapter 16: Verses 17-20
The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 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.
Then Moses said to them, ‘No one is to keep any of it until morning.’
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.
Exodus Chapter 16: Verses 25-28
‘Eat it today,’ Moses said, ‘because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.’
Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?
The people of Israel were on a journey in more ways than one. They were used to doing certain things and behaving in a certain way. They had lived in a specific part of Egypt. Their circumstances had made them creatures of habit and they knew what to expect, even if it was hardship. But this was all new to them, new places, a new way of living and a new, closer relationship with God. God therefore set them a test to see if they would follow His instructions right at the very start of their journey. After all, He knew what lay ahead and they didn’t.
It seems however that some of them didn’t pay any attention to God. Even although they had seen what had happened to the people of Egypt when Pharaoh didn’t obey God. It seems that they still thought that they knew best. This attitude and behaviour was going to lead them on to spend 40 years wandering in the desert. If only they had learned to be completely obedient.
But I can’t be too hard on them when I consider that I am not always faithful at following instructions. Even from a practical point of view how, many of us skip the instruction booklet when we buy a new piece of equipment. We would save ourselves time and trouble in the long run if we take a wee minute or two to read it.
And how often do we think we can do things better ourselves and ignore what we know in our heart is the way God wants us to do something. He still knows the bigger picture and we don’t. Is God surely not worth listening to or do we have such a high opinion of ourselves that we still think our way is the right way. God in His mercy will give us another chance if we ask for forgiveness and do what He wanted us to do. But we would have saved ourselves a lot of trouble and heartache if we had done things God’s way first time round.
Dear God,
I realise that as Your child You want what’s best for me, but also recognise that like a wilful child I have often thought I knew a better way. Help me to be quick and faithful to follow Your directions which will always keep me on the right road. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.