Lesson 58 - Senior
Memory Verse
Cross References
I The Waters of Marah
1. Israel's route led them through a dry wilderness, [EXO:15:22].
2. The first water they found was unfit for drinking, [EXO:15:23].
3. The Israelites proved their carnal condition by murmuring against Moses, [EXO:15:24]; [EXO:14:11]; [PS:106:15-16].
4. Moses demonstrated his Christian spirit by praying when they were in trouble, [EXO:15:25]; [MAT:5:44].
5. By a miracle God delivered the Israelites from further thirst, [EXO:15:25].
6. God gave Israel an all embracing statute and an ordinance, [EXO:15:25-26]; [JER:7:22-23].
7. Israel encamped at Elim for a period of time, [EXO:15:27].
II Manna and Quails for Food
1. At the Wilderness of Sin the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, [EXO:16:1-3]; [EXO:5:20-21]; [EXO:14:12]; [PS:105:40]; [PS:78:14-28].
2. God promised to send bread from Heaven, not only to supply their needs but also as a test of their obedience, [EXO:16:4-5]; [DEU:8:3], [DEU:8:16].
3. The daily provision was also evidence that it was God Who had brought them out of Egypt, [EXO:16:6]; [MAT:6:11]; [PHL:4:19].
4. They were told by Moses that their murmurings were against God, Exodus 16:7 9.
5. God's glory appeared to the Israelites as He talked to them, as a further testimonial of His leadership, [EXO:16:10-12].
6. Quails were sent in the evening and manna in the morning -- enough for all, [EXO:16:13-15]; [NUM:11:7-9]; [JOS:5:10-12]; [NEH:9:19-21]; [REV:22:18].
7. A commandment concerning the manna and Sabbath observance was given as a test of Israel's obedience, [EXO:16:16-31].
8. A pot of manna was kept as a perpetual memorial of God's providential care, [EXO:16:32-36].
Notes
Carnality Compared with Christianity
The great triumph at the Red Sea was scarcely past when another crisis arose for the Israelites. The wanderings of the Children of Israel were similar to the life of a Christian. When we get into "wilderness experiences" we are put to the test as to the real measure of our acquaintance with God and with our own hearts. There is a freshness and an exuberance of joy at the opening of our Christian career which may soon receive a check by a keen blast from the desert; and unless we have a firm realization of what God means to us, above and beyond everything else, and have a strong determination to persevere, we are apt to break down, and, in our hearts, turn back again to Egypt.
A three days' journey in a desert would make great demands upon the water supply an individual could carry. No doubt the Israelites were looking forward with anticipation to the first spring they could find from which to drink the cool, thirst slaking waters. It is easily understood that there was great disappointment when that spring gave bitter waters instead of sweet. Here was a test for them. Was God really their God? Would He take care of them in all their way? The succeeding events showed their failure and lack of faith.
Bitter Waters or Sweetened Springs?
Observe the difference between the rank and file of Israel and the godly man, Moses. They complained against Moses, accusing him; but he cried unto the Lord. Here is manifested the great difference between the carnal and the godly. One is filled with complainings, bitterness, and ingratitude; but the other has none of these things in his heart, for he has a Fount that never fails, a Source of strength and support that is always his, and an Ear that is never closed to his cry. The bitter waters are a picture of the trials, temptations, sorrows, pains, bereavements, and losses in this life, which come to all. But the Christian has One to Whom he can go in times of crisis to obtain relief and consolation.
Life's greatest triumphs, like the passage of the Red Sea, may be succeeded by vexatious incidents even though we are in the right path. But beside each Marah pool there grows a tree, which when cast into the waters makes them palatable and sweet. A tree? Truly so; but a tree without a leaf, roughly hewn and as bare as the frosts and winds of winter can make it -- the great grim, dear, sad, and yet wondrous Cross of the Son of God. By the merits of the Atonement purchased on the Cross we can find the help we need in any crisis of life. This tree that the Lord showed Moses is a beautiful picture of the blessings that Christ, through His cross of shame and His subsequent resurrection, brings into the life of the believer. The wood itself had no more healing virtue than the clay, which Jesus applied to the eyes of the blind man or the Jordan waters where Naaman was cleansed of his leprosy. Casting the tree into the waters was an exercise and manifestation of the faith and obedience that brought the desired results.
A Statute Given Prior to the Levitical Law
God made a statute and an ordinance at this time for Israel's benefit and guidance that included, as did the Law given later on Mt. Sinai, moral principles which were in existence from the beginning ([EXO:15:25-26]). The giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai was but another step in God's revelation of Himself and His will. This ordinance, given before the first altar was reared in the wilderness, is most valuable as setting forth the real nature and spirit of the Levitical ordinances. It was given with a promise to the observer that none of the diseases of Egypt would come upon him and that God would be his healer as well as his guide and protector. This is one of the great promises upon which we stand in times of sickness and trial.
The Journey to the Wilderness of Sin
The Israelites encamped at Elim because there were 12 wells and three score and ten palm trees there. An explorer, who is a devout man, recently located what he believed to be the area in which they camped. He reports that 9 of the wells are still open and unstopped by the sands of the desert. The 70 palm trees have grown into a forest, which produces considerable revenue for those who harvest the dates.
But the Israelites murmured again! This time Aaron was included as an object of their complaint. The Israelites seemed to consider that their being brought out of Egypt was the work of Moses and Aaron. The miracles were convincing; but as soon as they were past, the Israelites relapsed into their former unbelief. God therefore gave them a daily miracle that they might have proof of His interposition constantly before their eyes. Besides the miraculous supply of quails He gave them daily manna for their food.
Their whole speech only goes to prove that they preferred their bondage in Egypt to their immediate state in the wilderness with its promise of a land of peace and plenty ahead. They could not have been in absolute want, as they had brought an abundance of flocks and herds with them out of Egypt. Their cry to Moses and Aaron, "Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD," would seem to indicate they preferred death in one of the plagues sent upon Egypt, to their present state. In their impatience and unbelief they envied the lot of their slain oppressors! Such ingratitude and forgetfulness of God's grace and strength seem incredible till we look within our own hearts and see what would be there were it not for the grace of God!
Israel's Disobedience
The giving of the manna was also a test of Israel's obedience. In the morning they were to gather their needs for that day only, an omer to a person. (An omer is said to be about 3 quarts in our measure and literally signifies a heap.) On the sixth day of the week they were to gather extra supply for the Sabbath since none would fall on that day of rest. Any manna gathered and kept until the next day would ordinarily produce worms and be worthless for their use, but the portion taken on the sixth day would keep fresh for the Sabbath. The sun would melt whatever manna was left in the field after they had gathered their supply, and yet the manna could be baked in an oven like any flour made from grain. It came with the dew, and still it was hard and could be ground in mills or beaten in their mortars.
Every detail of the plan was designed to teach Israel a great lesson. They had not only distrusted God's providence as to their food, but they had regarded the food itself as the chief thing for which they were to live; and so God humbled them and suffered them to hunger, and fed them with a food unknown to them, that He might make them to know that man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord.
The first lesson was one of daily dependence upon God for their needs. Jesus taught His disciples to pray the familiar Lord's Prayer in which He told them to ask for their daily food. God wants us to be dependent upon Him for everything -- all the time! We are strong when we realise our weakness and come to Him for help. Another lesson was that of obedience. Different individuals showed their disregard for God's commands and their distrust of His Word, as well as their greed and covetousness, by gathering more than the stipulated amount for their daily needs and by going out to gather manna on the Sabbath day. Their disobedience brought words of condemnation from God, and no doubt only His mercy prevented Him from cutting them off in their sin.
Whosoever Will
This daily manifestation of God's benevolence was typical of another daily outpouring that God gives to His children, which is a great lesson to us. The manna was a type of Christ, the Word of God. Jesus said He was the Bread of Life. He came down from Heaven to give life to all who would believe and obey Him. And that Bread, too, must be gathered daily if we would benefit from it. The Israelites would have perished in the wilderness had not God fed them with bread from Heaven; and every soul would have perished had not Jesus come down from Heaven and given Himself for the life of the world. There was manna enough for all ([EXO:16:18]); and the great Gospel invitation, "Whosoever will," guarantees an admittance into eternal life for every man, woman, and child who will accept that miracle of Grace.
The day break blessing is a daylong gain. When one meets with God in the morning, before becoming entangled with the cares and responsibilities of the day, he has made a contact and received a blessing that will last the entire day. And the plan of our day is the same as that of our lives. If we seek the heavenly manna in the morning of life, the whole span of years allotted to us on earth will be filled with blessing and climaxed by a glorious rapture in our eternal Home where we shall enjoy our Lord and Saviour forever.
Questions
1. What blessings are we to expect and receive from a "wilderness experience"?
2. What reaction did Israel have when they found the waters of Marah unsuited for their use?
3. What did Moses do? and what present application can be made out of' his example?
4. Quote, or state in your own words the contents of the statute and the ordinance given to Israel at this time.
5. What great promise did this statute contain?
6. When Israel murmured the next time, against whom did they think they directed their complaint? Against whom was it really directed?
7. What was the basis for this complaint?
8. How did God answer it?
9. Name the things contained in the Bible text, which show us that the manna was given miraculously.
10. What great lesson of Sabbath observance and reverence was taught at this time?