Moses’ Story: Bread of Life

Exodus 15:22-17:16

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY
Creation. Abraham. MOSES. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to Come.
Israel enslaved. Moses rescued. In Midian. Burning bush. Excuses. Plagues. Passover. Exodus.

Have you ever noticed that God does not comfort those who are already comfortable? He shakes things up, puts us on a bumpy path, and then leads us the long way around. Right when we think we’ve hit a smooth stretch and start relying on our skills and personality again—which is our tendency—there he goes, shaking things up again.

And… God graciously provides exactly what we need, just when we need it.

We see this principle repeated throughout the book of Exodus.

Leaving 430 years of history behind in Egypt, the Israelites were now experiencing a new day. They commemorated this fresh start by reordering their calendar. The date of their exodus from Egypt became the first month of their year.

God’s power was demonstrated through the plagues, the parting of the sea, and the destruction of the Egyptian army. God led them to freedom, their heads held high.

Then he put them on another challenging journey.

After crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites entered the Desert of Shur. Caravans passing through the area brought large quantities of water and food. However, having left Egypt with limited supplies, they were hungry and thirsty after three days. Finally, they arrived at Marah. They found water there, but it was too bitter to drink. 

That’s where the complaining began. “The people grumbled against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’” (Ex. 15:24).

The Hebrew word translated “grumble” (Heb: vayyillonu) is stronger than mere complaining or whining. It describes a rebellious attitude toward God, questioning his abilities and motives. Grumbling suggests that God is neither fair nor sufficient. 

In contrast to grumbling, Moses cried out to God. The Lord instructed Moses to throw a piece of wood into the water. Through this act of faith, God made the bitter water sweet. Here’s how God followed up.

Exodus 15:25b-26
There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” 

God continued to graciously provide. Right after the incident in Marah, they “came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water” (Ex. 15:27).

God graciously provides exactly what we need, just when we need it. Unfortunately, that doesn’t keep us from grumbling.

The Israelites left Egypt with unleavened dough to bake bread. After a month of travel, they began to run out of food. So…once again, they grumbled to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (Ex. 16:3).

Moses and Aaron told the Israelites that their continued grumbling was not against them but against the Lord (Ex. 16:8). As soon as the people understood, “the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud” (Ex. 16:10). Perhaps it was a fiery brilliance, a majestic billowing cloud, or both. God visibly reminded the people that he was in charge. 

Then God provided what they needed. He gave the Israelites daily food for their journey. They called it manna, “like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey” (Ex. 16:31). They were told to gather only enough for each day—except before the Sabbath. Each morning required fresh faith that God would provide their daily bread.

The manna was a supernatural provision. Psalm 78:25 describes it as the “bread of the angels.”

The manna was a daily provision. Every day, God’s people had to demonstrate their trust in him.

The manna was a sufficient provision. God provided for over two million people each day!

The manna was a constant provision. The “people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan” (Ex. 16:35).

Now, here’s an amazing aspect of Scripture: it ties itself together. Jesus used the story of manna to speak to the crowds, as an example of his work. It was near Passover, and he had fed five thousand and more from five loaves and two fish. The people came looking for him again, and Jesus pointed out that their desire was to satisfy physical needs rather than spiritual ones. 

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:32-33).

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life” (John 6:47).

Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:51a).

Manna was a tangible demonstration of God’s power and provision, but it was temporary. Jesus is the Person of God who provides for us eternally. Manna will leave you wanting again, but Jesus will satisfy your soul forever! 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD 
Read and reflect on Exodus 15:22-17:16. Where in your life are you grumbling instead of trusting? Are you missing out on the spiritual food only God can provide?

Talking to God: Ask God to help you pray rather than grumble. 

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