God Provides in the Wilderness

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AStudying God’s Word

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Introduction

Last week we finally saw the Israelite nation freed from their captivity in Egypt.

• • Write on the board, “How could the Israelites complain after all God had done for them?”
  Who can remind us what we learned about God’s provision and faithfulness? God was faithful to the promise he had made to Abraham 400 years earlier, as well as to the recent promises to Moses and the people to free them. He provided for them in granting their freedom from Pharaoh and also by providing great wealth from the Egyptians as they left. God also provided guidance for the Israelites in the pillar of cloud and in the pillar of fire as well as protection from Pharaoh’s army.

  God had heard the cries of his people in their bondage, and in his mercy, he freed them. His intent was to lead them up to the Promised Land of Canaan where the great nation would receive the land that he had promised to Abraham.

  Today, we are going to look at how God continued to provide for his people as he led them through the wilderness toward the Promised Land.

God Provided Water

It has only been a matter of days since the Israelites left Egypt. Approximately two million people are now across the Red Sea on the Sinai Peninsula in what is now modern-day Egypt. God is leading them back to Mount Sinai just as he had told Moses he would in order that he would serve him there (Exodus 3:12). But how are two million people going to survive in the desert with their flocks and herds? Refer to the History of Israel poster to show the timing of the events, the Exodus occurring about 1491 BC.

Let’s read Exodus 15:22–27 together and find out how they survived. Have someone read the passage aloud.

• Where did Moses lead the people? They moved from the Red Sea into the wilderness of Shur. Shur is the western side of the Sinai.
• How long did they travel? Three days.
• What were the people lacking? They had no water.
• Where did they find water? At Marah.
• What does Marah mean? Have the students look at their footnotes. They will likely find the meaning is bitterness. This is also what Naomi called herself after returning to Israel (Ruth 1:20). This is likely a descriptive place name.
• How did the people respond to the situation? They grumbled against Moses.
• How did Moses respond? He cried out to God.
• How did God respond to Moses? He showed Moses a log (or tree) to purify the water.
• What did Moses do? He threw the log into the water.
• What happened to the water? The water became “sweet,” or good for drinking.
• Was this a natural remedy or a miracle? Every indication is that this is miraculous. There is no known tree that would turn bitter water sweet, so it is best to view this as a miracle.
• What was the purpose of God bringing the people to the bitter waters? God did it to test the people. The people responded with grumbling rather than calling out to God for help.
• What statute did God establish? If the people would listen to and obey God, he would not bring disease upon them (as he had done in Egypt) but would be their healer.
• Where did the Israelites move next? They moved to Elim where there was an oasis with springs and trees to provide for them.

Discover the Truth

Once again, God had provided for the people in a miraculous way. He provided water in the middle of a desert. If you flip ahead to chapter 17, you’ll see another situation where the people were in need of water, and they blamed Moses for wanting to kill them. God provided again by having Moses strike a rock with his staff. Moses called the place Massah (which means “testing”) and Meribah (which means “quarreling”) in light of the people’s response. Rather than looking to God as their provider, they complained against Moses, failing the test of trusting in God and, instead, put God to the test.

The Apostle Paul connects a spiritual truth to this physical provision of water for the needs of the Israelites. Turn to 1 Corinthians 10 and let’s read about that connection in verses 1 through 13. Read the passage aloud once everyone has turned to it. If time is short, read at least through verse 4.

You can see the allusion to the pillar of cloud, the crossing of the sea, and the provision of water and food for the Israelites. And Paul connects that physical provision to the spiritual provision that God gave us in Christ. Just as the Israelites needed water to survive in the desert, every person needs Christ to survive. Christ was the provider of guidance and water in the desert, and he is the provider of guidance and living water for Christians today.

We also hear the warning of Paul to not be like those who grumbled against God. We will talk about that more in a few minutes.

God Provided Meat and Bread

Now we know how God provided water for the Israelites, so next we will look at how he provided food.

Turn back to Exodus 16, and let’s read how the people reacted as their food supplies ran low. Have someone read the passage aloud, dividing it into sections. If time is short, read 1–8 and 13–26.

• How long had they been away from Egypt? Since the Passover was to be commemorated on the 14th day of the first month (Abib) and they left the following morning, it has been about one month. The “second month” does not mean that two months have passed.
• How did the people recall their lives in Egypt? They spoke of Egypt as a land of abundance of meat and bread, a situation that was obviously not true in their slavery. They would rather be enslaved in Egypt than die free in the desert.
• Whom did the people grumble against? Moses and Aaron.
• Whom did Moses and Aaron acknowledge they were really grumbling against? They were really grumbling against God (vv. 7–8).
• How did God intend to test the people (v. 4)? He gave them the command to not keep any of the “bread from heaven” and to collect twice as much on the sixth day. This was done as a test of their willingness to obey his commands, even ones as simple as this.
• How did God make his presence known? His glory appeared in the pillar of cloud. Since this was during the day, it must have been a bright light that outshone even the sun.
• How did God intend to show them that he was indeed the Lord their God (v. 12)? He would give them meat in the evening and bread in the morning.
• What meat did the Lord provide? Quail came to the camp. This is the first instance, with the second in Numbers 11:31.
• How much meat was provided? It “covered the camp,” so it was an ample supply.
• What was provided in the morning? As the dew lifted, there was a white, flaky substance on the ground.
• How did the people respond to this substance? They asked, “What is it?” since they had never seen anything like it before. It is from this phrase that we get the name manna (v. 31).
• What was the manna like? It formed as a flaky substance as the dew came down (see also Numbers 11:7–9), was white, and tasted like wafers made with honey.
• What were the instructions for each day’s supply of manna? It was to be collected, but only enough for one day, and not to be kept overnight. An omer (about two quarts) was to be collected for each person.
• What does verse 20 tell us about how the people failed God’s test? Some of the people tried to save it over night, but it stank and worms were found in it. They failed the test.
• How was the sixth day different? Since the seventh day was to be a Sabbath day of rest, twice as much was to be collected on the sixth day and kept for the Sabbath. The manna did not appear on the morning of the Sabbath.
• What does verse 27 tell us about the second test? Again, some of the people disobeyed and went out on the Sabbath to gather.
• How did God respond to their disobedience? He was upset, asking Moses how long they would be disobedient. Then he reiterated the Sabbath command.
• How did God plan to remind future generations of this provision? A jar of the manna was to be kept to remind future generations. This would eventually be placed in the Ark of the Covenant with the tablets of the covenant (Exodus 25:16; Hebrews 9:4).
• How long did God provide the manna? God provided it every morning for forty years, until they entered Canaan.
• What events does verse 35 foreshadow? The people would disobey God, and he would forbid them from entering the Promised Land, leading them through the wilderness for 40 years.

Discover the Truth

What an amazing way to provide for his people. Even though they complained against God and wanted to be back in their previous bondage, God was still merciful and gracious to them. Rather than judging their complaining (mercy), he provided for their desire for meat (grace) by sending quail. Then he met their need through the provision of a delicious bread every day.

• Some claim that such a miracle as the provision of manna is impossible or just an embellishment to this story. Did Jesus believe this really happened? Jesus refers to the manna in John 6. After feeding the 5,000 (John 6:1–15), Jesus discussed the “bread from heaven” that God had given their ancestors.

• Let’s go to John chapter 6. How does Jesus relate himself to the manna in John 6:32–40? Assign a reader. God had provided “life” for his people in the wilderness through the provision of manna. But Jesus came down from heaven, as the manna came down with the dew, as the true bread of life—the bread that gives eternal life. The manna was temporary and a shadow of what Jesus would provide.

  In all of this, we can see a clear message—God provides in abundance for his people.

Complaints Activity

Pass out a copy of the Complaints worksheet to each student.

We are going to take some time to look at some of the key passages that show how the Israelites responded to needs they faced while in the desert. On the worksheet you will find five passages. Read over each one and fill in the blanks, and then answer the questions. We will discuss them in a few minutes. Have the students work in groups to complete the activity.

Connect to the Truth

You can see that even as the Israelites continued to complain against God, he provided. He was not always pleased with them, but he was patient. God did not forget that he had promised to make a great nation from these descendants of Abraham, but he was still displeased with his people at many times and in various ways.

We see the Israelites as a bit selfish—focused on their own needs rather than looking to God to provide. But let’s not just point fingers at them, let’s use their example to examine our own thinking.

• As you answered the questions, what did you write down regarding how God is meeting your needs? Discuss various answers, trying to point to the difference between legitimate needs (like food and water) and wants and desires.
• What do the passages you read in Philippians (2:14–16, 4:11–13) teach you about how we should view complaining? We are called to be content in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, looking to the truth that Christ provides all that we need and will strengthen us to endure whatever circumstances we face. He has promised to provide for all of our needs (Matthew 6:25–34). 1 Timothy 6:8 also brings this truth to light.

Application

As God continued to fulfill his promises to the Israelites, he provided for them in miraculous ways. He made bitter water sweet, brought water from a rock, flooded their camp with quail, and provided their daily bread as manna from heaven. There was not a need that he did not meet.

However, the response of the Israelites was not commendable. Rather than freedom in the wilderness, they longed for slavery along with a full belly. But God knew that was not the best, and not what fulfilled his plans for them. They grumbled and complained against Moses and Aaron for leading them out of Egypt, but since God is in control of all things, they were really complaining against God.

We can understand that they did not have much knowledge of God. For generations, they had been in bondage in Egypt without a prophet or a real connection to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They didn’t know God and how to trust him. So, even in the face of continually seeing God’s miracles to keep them safe and provide for their needs, they continued to complain.

God was not pleased with them, but he was faithful to his own promises. And we must see all that the Israelites experienced as an example for us, even thousands of years later. God has not changed—his character is immutable (unchanging). The same God who provided guidance, protection, sustenance, and hope is with us today.

And we have an even fuller revelation of who he is. Not only do we have thousands of years of his faithfulness recorded in the Bible, but God has come in the flesh and now dwells in us. These are two realities that the Israelites could not have imagined. Jesus came to be both our example of obedience to the Father and our Savior from sins such as complaining. And the Holy Spirit dwells in us, giving us guidance in a way that is better than a pillar of cloud or fire. Let us not forget the riches that we have today as children of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And beyond our physical needs, our greatest spiritual need has been met in Christ and his work on the cross. Even if we find ourselves in need of food or drink for our physical bodies, we can know that the bread that came down from heaven is sufficient for all of those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.

Now that we have examined the text, let’s look to applying what we have learned, to help us understand God better and our own hearts better.

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  How does God’s unchanging character (immutability) give you hope in light of what we read about how he provided for the Israelites? Discuss various answers, focusing on how God has the power and desire to meet the needs of his children.
• Have you ever found yourself in a situation that was hopeless (like the Israelites against the Red Sea with the Egyptians in pursuit)? Is your first tendency to despair, to look for an escape, or to look to God for help? Discuss various answers, encouraging your students to look to Christ and trust in his provision.
• Why do you think God considers complaining a sin? Discuss various answers, focusing on the fact that to complain is to say that what God has given us is not good enough, or that the situation he has put us in is not the right one.
• What types of things do you tend to complain about? Discuss various answers, encouraging the students to understand their sin patterns so that they can repent of them and look for help.
• How can we encourage one another to overcome the sin of complaining? Galatians 6:1 calls us to come alongside others in their sin with the hope of restoring them. Being willing with a gentle spirit to approach a brother or sister to reprove sin is an important part of being the body of Christ. But we must remember to examine our own hearts first, and be open to receive correction ourselves.
• How might God use an apparently hopeless situation in your life to grow you to be more like Christ? Discuss various answers. Circumstances that may seem hopeless to us are all in God’s hands and under his direction. We need to remember his faithfulness, and trust that he will indeed work all these things together for good (Romans 8:28–30).
• If you encountered someone who doubted or denied the miracle of the Red Sea crossing or the provision of manna in the wilderness, how would you use that as an opportunity to share the hope you have in Christ? Most skeptics would say these events never really happened. But we can use their skepticism as an opportunity to point to the Bible as God’s sure Word. Not only does it tell us of these historical events and show God’s power, but it also points us to the hope we have in Christ when we complain (or commit any other sin).
• In what ways has God provided for your needs? Discuss various physical and spiritual answers, pointing to God’s power to provide all we need.

Group Prayer

Be sure to pray with your class before you dismiss them.

• Praise God for his mighty power to provide for all of our needs, physical and spiritual.
• Ask God for victory over the sin of complaining.
• Thank God that he is immutable and faithful.