Day 35 | Exodus 16-18 | Chronological Bible Reading Plan
CHAPTER 16
[We see God provide bread and meat for the Israelites on the daily because of all their griping. But God also uses these blessings as a way to test their faith and trust in Him. And it seems there are still many that won’t obey His commands and don’t trust Him.]
v2, “There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.”
Like, really? I’m not surprised because people often believe when they are free from their current oppressor, they will magically be fulfilled and happy. But actually, if you haven’t taken the time to work on your heart and mind, while also finding a way out of your oppression, you will STILL live life with the same mindset you always have, to complain about life and continually find something to feel oppressed about.
v3, “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,’ they moaned.”
It’s really NOT giving gratitude and thankfulness.
v7, “In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?”
In the next verse, Moses emphasizes again that there blame needs to not fall on him and Aaron because this is all the Lord’s plan and they are meerly instruments to carry out the plan.
v28, “The Lord asked Moses, ‘How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?’”
It’s wild that these people just couldn’t help themselves. They just didn’t really trust the Lord and it shows.
v32, This verse is interesting because preserving some of the manna for descendants seems opposite of what they are called to do day to day, but God did tell them to do this.
CHAPTER 17
[Once again, the people of Israel are complaining to Moses about something that wasn’t already provided for them. Moses, with God working through him, gave the people water from a rock, and Joshua, with the men he chose, fought and defeated the Amalekites because Moses held his staff above him (with the help of Aaron & Hur) until the fight was over.]
It seems very clear that the testing of the people is happening on both sides, because Moses’ patience must have been tested through all of this, too.
CHAPTER 18
[Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law comes to visit him in the wilderness and eventually provides Moses with some really wise advice.]
v18, “’You’re going to wear yourself out - and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.’”
This verse reminds me that we can’t try to do everything on our own. We were not designed to live that way.
v23, “’If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.’”
This is a reminder that whatever advice you are given by others need to be run by God to ensure it aligns with His will and His ways before following it.