~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GOOD NEWS FROM THE REDEEMER
March 24, 2001 RADIO MESSAGE #364
Christ in Exodus #57
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Israel murmured against Christ from the beginning of their wilderness journey: at the Red Sea because they feared the approach of Pharaoh's army (14:10-12); at Marah because its waters were too bitter to drink (15:24); and now in the Wilderness of Sin because they feared they would die of hunger (16:1-4ff). All within the space of but one month! (16:1). Let us here learn ...
I. The murmurings of Christ's people are unreasonable. Consider the present instance. They had by now perhaps eaten all the food and many of the animals they had brought out of Egypt. They were in a land which produced very little that was edible, and contained no stores in which provisions could be purchased. They therefore feared they would die of hunger. How, in such a circumstance, could their murmurings be unreasonable?
1. They distrusted Christ's power of deliverance even though He had already frequently manifested it. In glorious and miraculous manners, He had delivered them from Egyptian bondage, saved them at the Red Sea, destroyed their enemy in the sea, sweetened the bitter waters of Marah, and daily led them.
2. They misrepresented both their former and their present circumstance. They longed for the former times in Egypt, "when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full!" (v.3). They conveniently forgot that they then were slaves under cruel taskmasters, that their children were being murdered, and that they were crying to the Lord for salvation. And they conveniently forgot that they now were free men, that their families were together, and that Jehovah was keeping His promises to them.
3. They vented their complaint to the wrong persons: to Moses and Aaron (v.2) – accusing them of having brought them into the wilderness to kill them! (v.3). One day they put their leaders on a pedestal; the next day they tear them down. Did they not realize that Moses and Aaron were in the same circumstance? Moses rightly informed them, "Your murmurings are not against us but against the LORD" (v.8). Christ had brought them to this place. Moses and Aaron were but His servants.
4. They neglected to pray. Murmuring was easier to do. Is not this conduct of ancient Israel sometimes typical of the church today? A church may find herself in an undesirable situation even if her pastor is faithfully leading her as Christ leads him. She may forget to pray, and instead murmur against Christ by venting her displeasure against her pastor. II. Christ responds to the murmurings of His people.1. He pitied them. Neither a word of reproof nor an act of chastisement is recorded. Although He dealt with their murmuring very severely at a later time (Numbers 21:5f), here at the beginning of their journey He made an allowance for their complaint.
2. He provided their need. We do not say He granted their request, because they made none to Him. But as in mercy He pitied them by withholding from them the reproof and chastisement they deserved, He now in grace provided to them what they did not deserve (vv.11-15): "And the LORD spoke to Moses [not to the murmurers], saying, 'I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, "At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. ..." "They had quail for supper that evening and thereafter bread in the form of manna for breakfast every morning.
3. He tested them (v.4): "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not." He would daily provide just enough food for that day in a manner which would test them to see if they would trust and obey Him (vv.16ff).
Christ responds to the murmurings of His church in the same manner today.1. He pities them (Psalm 103:13f): "As a father pities His children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust" (also vv.8, 10).
2. He provides their need (Philippians 4:19): "God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ."
3. He tests them through this provision to see if they will trust and obey Him. Will they pray for only "daily bread" (Matthew 6:11) and daily walk in His statutes (Hebrews 3:13-15)?