January 5, 2025 - Exodus 16:11-19; 17:1-6
January 5, 2025
Exodus 16-17
Lessons Learned
by Wayne Gaeddert
1. The Wilderness of Sin (pronounced Seen), has nothing to do with sin, and is somewhere on the Sinai Peninsula.
2. The 15th day of the second month (they left Egypt on the 15th day of the first month Exodus 12:6), 30 days after they were released from the bondage of slavery, they were grumbling against the leadership.
3. A little bit of stress will show whether your trust is in the LORD or human resources.
4. God wanted Israel to seek Him for their needs rather than grumble at Moses.
5. Israel needed to learn that the God who delivered them from the bondage of Egypt could provide for all their needs as they journeyed to the promised land.
6. God was trying to teach the lessons of Psalm 84:10-12 to Israel:
Being in God’s presence is a blessing.
God’s presence is preferred over dwelling among the pleasures of the wicked.
God is their protector and light—like the cloud at the Red Sea.
God wants to give good things to those who trust Him.
7. As soon as a crisis situation arises, it is easy to recall the ‘good ole days’ with rose-colored glasses, not remembering its heartaches and tribulations.
8. God’s provision included the test (gather enough for today only) of obedience which would declare if they truly trusted Him.
9. God’s provision was for one day at a time.
10. Jesus model prayer—Give us this day our daily bread. Matt 6:11
11. God’s purpose was to teach Israel to know that He is the LORD, the covenant-making and covenant-keeping, God.
12. God wanted Israel to understand that He could protect and provide for those he had redeemed.
13. “We don’t know that God is all we need until God is all we have.” Anonymous
14. In times of crisis, leadership is the first to be accused of making bad choices.
15. God showed himself to Israel Israel’s grumbling
Ten plagues in Egypt Ex. 7-12 Trapped at the Red Sea Ex. 14:11-12
Passover in Egypt Ex. 12 Bitter water at Marah Ex 15:23
Pharaoh's army destroyed @ Red Sea Starving Ex. 16:2-3
Ex. 14
Bitter water made sweet Ex. 15:22-25
Provision of manna and quail Ex. 16
16. God’s provision was sufficient for everyone to have as much as they needed.
17. Every believer spends time in the desert. Do you complain or seek to learn what God wants to teach you?
18. The people didn’t know what they were seeing on the ground so they called it manna, which means ‘what is it.’ Ex. 16:31
19. Moses told the people that what they were seeing was, ‘bread the LORD has given you’, directing their attention to God’s provision. Ex 16:15
20. Jesus referred to this Exodus event in John 6:32-35 and declared to the crowd of people, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
21. Rephidim means resting place or camping place and was a station in the wilderness between the Wilderness of Sin and the Wilderness of Sinai.
22.“Every difficulty you meet is an opportunity for testing yourself and trusting your Lord, for going forward or going backward.” Wiersby
23. Application:
God will provide for your needs.
God will test you to find out if you will turn to Him in the time of crisis.
Jesus is our ‘rock’ that provides rivers of living water for our thirsty souls.