Originally posted: 03/06/2019
The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, (16:2).
Does it amaze you … His tireless patience? What would you have done? Imagine you just pulled off the most inexplicable, miraculous rescue mission ever, and and just one short month later, the very ones you so wondrously rescued are now grumbling about something to eat.
They had just watched you part the Red Sea; they walked over it on dry land; they watched the enemy get completely annihilated; and now they see their past prison-state as more desirable. Why? Because there, they could eat a pot of meat and fill up on bread; completely disregarding they had just been set free from slavery. How do you think you would feel? And more notably, how do you imagine you might respond?
It’s so unreasonable, so impossible to fathom; but in response to the grumblings, He Who Hears the Grumblings responds, yet again, with His miraculous grace-filled intervention. His grace is beyond description and comprehension.
Consider Him Who Hears the Grumblings
“and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, for He hears your grumblings against the Lord…” 11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel…” (16:7, 11-12).
He Hears the Grumblings and rains down miraculous provision.
He Hears the Grumblings and tests the willingness of His children to submit to His instructions.
He Hears the Grumblings and reveals Himself once more as the One who brought them out, the LORD, their God.
He Hears the Grumblings and supplies exactly what each individual needs; no excess and no lack.
He Hears the Grumblings and reveals His glory.
He Hears the Grumblings and discloses that their angry protests are, in reality, aimed at Him.
He Hears the Grumblings and sends the very food they reminisced about: both meat and bread.
He Hears the Grumblings and calls each one to trust Him for daily provisions.
He Hears the Grumblings and provides opportunities of blessing through obedience.
He Hears the Grumblings and His faithful provision becomes a testimony to all generations.
Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded, ‘Let an omerful of it be kept throughout your generations, that they may see the bread that I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt,’” (16:32).
How do we respond to Him Who Hears the Grumblings?
- Oh His amazing grace; while we were grumbling against Him, He demonstrated His grace and love by the most miraculous of all provisions, His Son sent to die for us, the only acceptable payment for our sins.
- But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, (Romans 5:8).
- The world has no solution for man’s greatest need and spiritual hunger. We must come to the Bread of Life by placing our faith in Him.
- Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst,” (John 6:35).
- Just as we must regularly and consistently feed our physical bodies to maintain health, it is absolutely imperative we go to Him daily for His heavenly provision, His sustenance through His Word.
- Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,’” (Matthew 4:4 BSB).
- Let us pray to be strengthened in our faith, trusting He will completely meet our every need. Let us not rely on feelings but on His supernatural provision, perfect timing, and complete supply.
- And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 4:19).
- He Hears our Grumblings and knows our hearts. When we are discontent let us be quick to acknowledge and confess that our grumblings are really against the Lord.
- “…and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, for He hears your grumblings against the Lord; and what are we, that you grumble against us?’ 8 Moses said, ‘This will happen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the Lord hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord,” (16:7-8).
- When life brings the struggles and challenges we don’t understand, let us pray for His grace to grow us in our desire to honor Him with an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving.
- “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who orders his way aright
I shall show the salvation of God,” (Psalm 50:23).
- “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
- The more we fix our thoughts on His grace and goodness, the less we grumble. Growing in a lifestyle permeated by thanksgiving prompts us to share His grace with others. Let us pray the LORD would use our lives as a testimony of His faithful provision.
- “Come and hear, all who fear God,
And I will tell of what He has done for my soul, (Psalm 66:16).
- “Come and hear, all who fear God,
Oh, may we never forget that He has pulled off the most inexplicable, miraculous rescue mission ever… our salvation, bought by the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus on the cross; and He has transferred us out of our slavery into the Kingdom of freedom and forgiveness in His beloved Son!
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, (Colossians 1:13-14).
Oh Lord,
We so desire that You Hear our Praises… not our Grumblings. May we purpose to live each day in awe of Your miraculous rescue and filled with unceasing gratitude. Lord, may our mouths be so filled with Your Praise that there just won’t be room for the grumblings.
My mouth is filled with Your praise
And with Your glory all day long, (Psalm 71:8).