EXODUS 16:1-10 THE GLORY OF THE LORD APPEARED It often seems like tests come from God in ways we least expect. One month and one day after the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt, they found themselves without food to eat. In the life of those who live by faith there will be tests of faith all the way from the day we first trusted Christ as personal Lord and Savior, to the day God takes us home to heaven. These tests will not always be the same. The testing the Lord sends to His own people builds character and strengthens faith. They had found Elim to be a good resting place, but it was not intended to be their dwelling place. Those restful stopping places in life are certainly welcomed as oasis in the wilderness but these times are reminders of a future time when the journey is over.
After leaving Elim they stopped by the Red Sea, according to the book of Numbers, where they got a last look at Egypt across the water that now separated them when "they were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." A new life had begun for God's people. God in great patience heard their grumbling for food but did not reprove them for their murmuring. Their life of faith had just begun and they were just beginning to learn who God is. We will encounter danger, inconveniences and shortages of those things we have come to expect as our right. God in His grace, and in a distinct act beyond the ability of man to accomplish, reveals Himself as the One of inexhaustible resources who "can supply all your need." When pressure comes on us, we often want a quick escape to make our life easier.
The cause of their problem was they were focusing on their immediate need rather than on God who meets our needs. This is not uncommon to all of us. Our attention is turned on events around us and our perceived needs that make us uncomfortable. The lesson of constant faith has to be learned over and over again it seems. At first God is very patient and longsuffering with those beginning the life of faith. As we experience God in our lives, then He expects us to trust Him and obey Him in spite of any discomfort it may cause us. We need to learn to be content with such things as we have.
Tests of faith and obedience often go together. God had given the Israelis careful and detailed instructions and now He was giving them the opportunity to respond in obedience in the big things of life by taking small steps of obedience in the simple things of life. The promise of food to supply their need was given. The instructions as to how, when and where to gather that food was given before it came. The bread was promised, not just as a provision to meet their need, but as a test to prove them as to their sincerity and commitment to God.
The miracle of manna enough for over two million people to be fed on a daily basis for forty years was certainly an act of God, not just a normal act of nature. Whether is was the bread from heaven or the gift of the quails in the evening, nature was under the controlling power of the Creator-God who could add or diminish the supply as He chose. It was also a great act of God's grace to provide without reproof, what those untested people needed. The simple test of obedience associated with the provision is a lesson to us to remember, "to who much is given, much is required."
As Aaron was passing on the instructions as he received them from Moses, they all saw the glory of God in the cloud. When God teaches His people lessons from Himself or tests their faith and obedience, He is nearby. Those people would have quickly silenced their complaints and murmuring as the evidence of God was right there before their eyes in the cloud. When God reveals Himself to us as to who He is, what He does, what He can do and what His will is - it should stop every foolish word and thought we might have entertained, and bring us down in humility and contrition before Him. Every word, every action, every thought I have is exposed in His presence. There is nothing of attitude or action that I might have that is not known in its entirety to Him. Any evidence of divine revelation is a time of awakening by the Lord Himself. He is training His self-centered people to trust Him in the walk of faith.
What do I expect to be evidence of God's glory revealed to me? Should I be looking for a bright cloud or something unusual I can see? Or is it enough through words written down that I respond in faith to Him? Evidence of a revelation of God begins in my spirit within.
A sense of importance in each incident in life opens faith-eyes to see the Lord. There are ways of instruction given to me that to ignore I can ill afford. In the small things that seem so simple God speaks that I from Him might learn. And in careful consideration of the way things are, I from self to Him will turn.
God gives grace so I can see beyond what to most people seems mundane. To the awakened soul we can recognize these happen that He might train Each of us to be who He intends and then He can use us as He wills. That changes life from being an ordinary thing to a path His great grace fills.
God reveals His glory in ways that at first seem so plain, We don't really grasp their value until the same things happen again. Finally, we come to realize God reveals Himself even in a child's smile. That in turn leads me to consider He has been right here with us all the while.
It may be at the breaking of a day; the dawn awakes my soul to His will. It may be watching saints leave their body, I realize God is right here still. There doesn't have to be a storm or some beautiful pastoral scene to view, In order for me to recognize God is near me to see His plans go through.
May I never ignore what seems trivial, because it may be important to God. And even simple verses I know well help me to truly obey my Lord. I do not want to consider anything a valueless experience in life. O Lord God, please help Thy servant to daily walk by faith, not by sight.
"Father, this new day has already been a revelation of Thyself to me and I thank Thee. May this day be one in which I can not only know Thee better, but grow in grace myself and express that grace to others. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."