I noticed today in 16:4 of the New Living Translation that God orchestrated all of these events in order to test them. As one of my instructors mentioned one day “you don’t like tests, but they are good for you”.
God could have easily provided manna at the beginning of every day, but He didn’t. He wanted to see if the people would obey. It makes me wonder what God thinks about the way we behave. Take Sunday for instance; we know that God made certain demands and requirements of His day, He specifically said that we could not do any work at all. We know that the “law” was meant for the Israelites, not for everyone…but then again the idea that Man needs a day of rest isn’t limited to the Israelites…we all need it. So, the rule should apply to all of us, even today.
Given that, I wonder if God will be angry or frustrated with us when He returns. I have been known to go out to eat on Sunday, or take in a ball game, or do some recreational shopping. I don’t feel too bad about it, but it does make me wonder if what I am doing will meet with God’s approval.
I wonder how much of what happens to me is simply a “test” to see how I will react to circumstances. I recently learned that actions are based on deeply held beliefs, so how I act is really revealing what I believe. (no matter what I say I believe)
Are my actions during times of frustration, crisis and disappointment reflecting that I trust in God? Does my language during these times give glory to God? How about when things are going well? Sometimes success is a greater challenge to our faith than failure. Do my successes push me closer to Jesus? Or, am I talking like I did it on my own?
The constant failure of Israel to trust in God is a reminder to me that genuine trust is a valuable attitude that is difficult to muster. Trust is fragile if it is built on fragile beliefs. Israel said they served the Lord…until He asked them to do something, and then their true beliefs betrayed them.
At the same time, Israel’s constant failure to believe reveals God’s patience and love. Where the people said one thing and believed another (so they acted poorly), God is revealed to be genuine in what He says because when the people disobey He still loves and cares for them. God’s actions prove that He is true and can be trusted.
Perhaps in the larger scheme of things this is the lesson that we are meant to learn from reading this passage. It wasn’t simply Israel being delivered from bondage or God revealing himself to Israel and Egypt….it is God revealing Himself to the entire human race across thousands of years. God did these things at that time so I would place my trust in Him today.
You and I have our own “manna tests” to take. Are you able to use wisely what God has given you, trusting that He will provide the same again on another day? Or are you tempted to save it up? And if you are “hoarding” the resources that God gave you, what does that say about what you truly believe? Thinking of how the people were complaining of thirst makes me wonder how long I will endure before I start to complain. And, when I start complaining is that really when I have begun to doubt God’s provision?
Faithfully,
PR