THEY
FOUND NONE
Picture taken
from Google
BIBLE PASSAGE:
EXODUS
16: 14-37
The
first priority of the parents is for the family to meet the basic needs. We
know that the only way to have food on the table is for us to have work and be
paid for it. I remember when we were kids, we were seldom had chicken, beef,
pasta or any unusual food. My father was a fisherman and every time he caught
fishes, he sold some or traded them for rice. As an Asian, rice is important to
us. One day, there was storm in our place and father can’t go to the sea to
catch fish. That time our sister wished to have chicken on the table. Suddenly
because of the strong wind, one live chicken was blown to our house through our
window. We thought that was God’s blessing and we dressed the chicken and
cooked it. We were happy that time because we tasted chicken meat. That was the
time that kind of life was not easy for us. I had no idea that God was the
source of everything.
In our passage for
today, in a miraculous way, God provided Israel with plenty of meat in the
wilderness. This was a significant display of the mercy of God. When Israel
complained God could have answered with judgment or discipline, and He gave
them meat instead. They were given quails meat. Also, the bread from
heaven came with the dew each morning, as some kind of residue from the dew. It
was small, round and fine as frost
on the ground. Therefore, it was not easy to gather. It had to
be swept up from the ground; they called this manna. The Israelites
were instructed on how to gather food from heaven. The purpose for
giving the bread from heaven was not only to provide for the material needs of
Israel, but also to teach them eternal lessons of dependence on God.
LESSON POINTS:
- 1. THEY FOUND NONE
BECAUSE GOD BLESSED THEM ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS (EXODUS 16:16-19)
Bible says in verse 16.
This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according
to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your
persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.
The bread from heaven was to be gathered on an individual or a
family basis. God did not command the creation of a tribal manna gathering and
distribution center. Every household
had to provide for itself, and a rich family could not hire a poor family to do
their work for them. An OMER FOR EACH PERSON: An Omer could
be as much as a gallon, especially in the later history of Israel. But at this
early point in Israel’s history it may have meant only a cupful. It is an
imprecise measure. https://www.blueletterbible.org/
Personally, I think this is a good reminder for us not to
compare ourselves to others because God blesses each one of us in accordance to
His will and our needs.
- 2. THEY FOUND NONE BECAUSE THEY
HEARKENED NOT THE LORD (EXODUS 16:19- 21)
19 And Moses said, Let no
man leave of it till the morning. 20 Notwithstanding
they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the
morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
21 And they gathered it every morning,
every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.
They clearly heard God’s command, and they clearly knew God’s
command. Yet for some reason they felt
they did not have to obey God’s command. There
was a harsh penalty for their disobedience — what they gathered in disobedience
bred worms and stank. The bad experience of their disobedience led them
reluctantly to obedience. The Israelites got more than their needs. When the
sun became hot, it melted. Apparently, the bread from heaven had to be gathered
and prepared early in the morning. This was God’s gracious way of forcing a
work ethic upon the nation of Israel.
Obedience is important for God’s blessings.
We cannot hide from God; He sees our hearts. Whatever we do God can see
everything.
3. THEY FOUND NONE BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL OF ALL THE BLESSINGS (EXODUS 16: 22-30)
God promised to
provide twice as much on the sixth day, and He did. Perhaps this came as
somewhat of a surprise to the people of Israel because they felt they had to
report it to Moses (came and told Moses). This was the first time God spoke to Israel about
the Sabbath. God essentially forced them to honor the Sabbath by not providing any bread
from heaven on the Sabbath day (today you will
not find it in the field).
Despite what God said,
some went looking for bread from heaven when He said there would be none. Some
will only learn by personal experience. God’s word was true, and they
found none. This was a powerful lesson, teaching Israel to trust what God said
before they had proven it true in experience. People today still
look for life and fulfillment in places God has said there would be none.
In the previous verses, God wouldn’t allow them food more than they need but in the sixth day, God allowed them to gather double of what they used to, prepare them
for the next day, Sabath day; on the Sabath day, no food from heaven.
I see God is in control of the blessings, there’s no difference
between the days of blessings. God wants them to be prepared with the Sabath day.
Whatever God allows it will happen. Therefore, the blessing is in God’s hands. One
thing Christian should consider is obedience. Obedience in God’s commands.
CONCLUSION:
Every time I recall my life and
what things had happened; I could not help but be grateful to the Lord for all
the things He has done. I could not imagine that miracles happen in this kind
of generation. I had so many wrong choices in life but God led me still in the
right path.
In verses 31-36, GOD wanted the
Israelites to preserve the food they had eaten to remind the next generation
that God provided them everything.
If we have the opportunity, let’s
testify of God blessings in our life. It’s God’s will for us to be a testimony
of His provision.
