The Reality of Need
Read This Week: Exodus 16
The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve. – Exodus 16:1-3 NIV
After escaping slavery in Egypt, the Israelites quickly realize they are hungry and tired. Desperate, they grumble against Moses and Aaron, longing for the comforts of their past, even if it was in the throws of oppression. This reaction seems unthinkable as we read this passage, but it’s sinful human nature to feel discontent when faced with uncertainty. Like the Israelites, we may find ourselves longing for the familiar and comfortable, even if it isn’t beneficial. This is the reality of need. The children of Israel acknowledged their needs but dwelt more on them than the One who delivered their lives. They failed to focus on the opportunities that God gave them, and when faced with challenges, they saw them as setbacks rather than growth experiences.
In response to the Israelites’ complaints, God, in His mercy, provides manna – a food that miraculously appears each morning. But the Lord only allows them to gather what they need for that day. He wants to teach them reliance on His word and provision in their journey to freedom. He wants them to learn the importance of trusting their needs will be met by the Father no matter how they felt or tried to take things into their own hands. The reality of need requires a balance of preparation and trust. We can plan obsessively for the future or to sit on our resources out of fear, but God wants us to be mindful of His power and ability to provide. Moses tells the Israelites in verses 6-7:
In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord.
This is our reality of need as well. The circumstances of our lives, similar to the ones of the Israelites between Elim and Sinai, alert us to what we should already know: that the Lord is the One who has delivered us. And when we trust in a plan bigger than ourselves, let go of control, and follow His guidance, we see the glory of the Lord and experience the reality of Him meeting our needs.
Exodus 16 is a narrative that resonates with our own struggles, desires, and experiences. We can navigate our lives with greater purpose and resilience by reflecting on the lessons of need, God’s provision, and trust. This chapter teaches us to embrace the wilderness experiences, knowing that each challenge brings with it the potential for spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of the Father’s heart. That is the reality of blessing.
Exodus Chapter 16 Verse 2
And the whole congregation of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.
Exodus Chapter 16 Verse 3
And said to them, Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
~Complaining Is Fruitless~
God Is Saying To Me:
My children, complaining is fruitless! You do not have to fret or worry. Cast your cares and needs to me. Anticipating the worst makes no sense if you keep your faith and trust grounded in me. I have a larger picture for you to understand. You cannot lose sight of the present moment and no amount of rationalizing previous scenarios in your life will ever compare to the victory that is coming for each of you!
What This Means To Me:
1. Don’t allow temporary struggles to skew your outlook on your walk and trust with God.
2. With out a relationship with God, we already have reduced ourselves to rubble.
3. Every struggle experienced can’t be rationalized going forward. Do not assume the worst!
4. Our human nature does not have to dictate our future. We do not have to be slaves to sin and question every situation.
Exodus 16:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will cause bread to rain from heaven for you; the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, so that I may test them [to determine] whether or not they will walk [obediently] in My instruction (law).
One day at a time
A journey to freedom –
The Israelites were on a journey to the promised land. Our journey with God is similar, and that he is leading us towards spiritual freedom, freedom from doubt, uncertainty, sin, fear, and anything that can hold us back from living in the day with God and he promises to be with us, but we need to talk to him and listen and do what he’s prompting us to do.
in our journey with God is every day.
remember the past is gone and tomorrow hasn’t come yet it’s all about today and when we face challenges, or we have doubts hardships that our faith can be tested.
The wilderness represents the struggles we go through, we are always learning to trust God in new and deeper ways.
we have to remember that God is faithful and he does provide. It’s all about walking with God daily learning and knowing that he is with us to help us through whatever we’re going through. God was teaching the Israelites that he was their provider, they didn’t have to complain or worry.
We can learn from this to put our hope in God knowing how much he cares for us, but we do have to ask the Holy Spirit to help us when we get into that place of doubt or Complaining
God allows us to experience seasons where we have to rely on his provisions and guidance one day at a time because He is teaching us to to know who He is the Lord our God, our Savior, our provider, our counselor our shepherd the list goes on.
So if you can’t see it in your situation do know that God is right there with you and he is patient and he loves you!
The key is keep seeking because He loves to show off!
I hear God saying
My daughter
I love you with my whole heart ❤️
It is important to live in today with Me.
There will be times when doubt comes
Its important to know that I’m always after your whole heart ❤️
I Am the LORD your God.
The testing part is to help you to know where your heart is so keep seeking and know I Am with you always ️ love you
Thank you Father God for all the teaching and blessings of Your Love
Also thank you for the Gift of rest may I continue to learn how to rest on Sundays
True freedom comes from trusting You, Your Love in every area of my life
Thank you for blessing us with everything ❤️
Love you
Do you know that today is a gift from God? It is. Every day is a gift, full of blessings and opportunity. I love waking up in the morning, thanking God for the day, and asking Him what’s on His mind and what His plans are for us today.
It’s amazing what we can do with God in a day. I strive to make the most of it, knowing it could be my last, though confident that if tomorrow doesn’t come, I will be with the Lord.
So I want to encourage you to carpe diem (seize the day), make the most of what God has given you, and follow His lead, trusting His wisdom and provision for you each day.
1. Each day is a gift from God.
2. God provides for us each day.
3. Do each day with God and follow His instructions.
PODCAST
This Week in the Life: Exodus 16
For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, the message, and then the second song.
1. Sunday Worship – First Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241013-Worship1.wav
2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241013-Message.wav
3. Sunday Worship – Second Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241013-Worship2.wav
Join the Party Line Live – Schedule: https://reachchurch.org/connect
This week in exodus chapter 16 I got a song
Worship
Let’s come together to worship our Lord. Let’s come together to worship our Lord praising our God who reigned above all our Lord is faithful always working, always working things out during our time on earth we will be tested during our time on Earth we will be tested as a person who has faith we will benefit from his promises we will benefit from his promises with our Lord we are blessed yes blessed we have spiritual freedom. Yes, we have spiritual freedom just remember walking hand-in-hand with our sweet Jesus so let’s not worry about what happened yesterday or worry about tomorrow let’s walk one day at a time with sweet Jesus amen.
Let’s just honor our Lord worship and praise.him Give him all the glory. His spirit is powerful. His spirit lives in us. We are truly blessed amen.