Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions? They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.”— Exodus 16:27-29 (NLT)
On reading Exodus 16, I was somehow troubled by the behaviour of the people of Israel, instantly my mind went to my learners. Sometimes they just do not seem to listen or retain any information that is given to them. You pass on the information verbally, message them on their phones, online via Teams and even write it on the board, hoping that the information will sink in somehow. But still, they do the wrong thing and I find it frustrating and wonder what else I could have done.
The Israelites seem to be just like my learners. Moses and Aaron were constantly instructing them on how best to serve the Lord, but they always did the complete opposite.
In this chapter, they grumbled against Moses and Aaron that they were going to die of hunger in the wilderness for lack of food. God provided food for them, at dawn and twilight. They were instructed to gather a certain amount of food for each member of the family. Not to keep any leftovers till the next day and finally only on the sixth day were they to gather double potions. This would last for two days because the seventh day was a day of rest and there was going to be no provision.
After everything God had done for the Israelites, sadly some of them still disobeyed those instructions. They didn’t gather the prescribed amount of food (v.17). Others had leftovers for the next day (v.20), “it bred worms and stank…”. And some still went out on the seventh day to gather food but found nothing (v.27). No wonder God was frustrated, “…‘How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?’”
However, in all my deliberations about the Israelites and my learners, the Holy Spirit turned the focus and spotlight on me. How many times had God given me instructions and commands and I think I know best, have gone to do things my own way only to fail?
Right from the garden of Eden, man has always thought he knew better than God. But time and time again, God’s word proved true and our foolishness all too evident.
“He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve…The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.” Psalms 103: 9-10, 13-14 (NLT)
We are all like the Israelites wanting to do things our own way. But God in His mercy and compassion still makes a way for us through Jesus Christ. When we sin, He is still willing to forgive and set us on the right path.
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 