Food for Hungry Travelers (Exodus 16:1-20)
1. Aim: To lead the people to understand that just as the Lord provided manna for the Israelites in the Old Testament so He provides Christ as our New Testament manna.
Illustration:One morning R.C. Chapman, a devout Christian, was asked how he was feeling. "I’m burdened this morning!" was his reply. But his happy countenance contradicted his words. So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, "Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?" "Yes, but it’s a wonderful burden--it’s an overabundance of blessings for which I cannot find enough time or words to express my gratitude!" Seeing the puzzled look on the face of his friend, Chapman added with a smile, "I am referring to Psalm 68:19, which fully describes my condition. In that verse the Father in heaven reminds us that He ’daily loads us with benefits.’"
Source Unknown.
2. Explanation of the Aim: When the Israelites complained that they wish they were back in Egypt so they could have good food, the Lord miraculously provided for their needs.
God sent down food from heaven, which the Hebrews called manna, or what is it. When people encounter difficult circumstances they should not follow their natural tendency to complain.
Instead, they should pause to thank God for the opportunity to trust Him and then humbly make their requests known to Him. Just as the Lord provided man for the people of God in the Old Testament so He provides New Testament believers with manna in Christ Jesus. We will examine several ways that Christ is willing to provide our spiritual sustenance in our lesson.
3. The Bible Story: Whenever people run out of fleshly resources it is a great opportunity to rely on God’s all sufficient riches through Christ. Paul wrote, My God will supply all you need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19)
This is a rock solid promise that assures us God will never leave us empty handed. Yet, the Israelites grew so ungrateful and bitter against God that they cried,
It would have been better if the Lord had killed us there in Egypt! At least then we would have plenty to eat. But now you Moses have brought us to the desert to starve to death. (Ex. 16:3)
People who undervalue their previous deliverance often forget how trustworthy God truly is. If people are not grateful for the riches they have in Christ now, they should not expect the Lord to give them anything new. Let us seek to realize and utilize the riches we have in Christ so we do not misappropriate any benefit we enjoy through His grace.
4. Explore some of the reasons why the Israelites so quickly forgot the power of God’s deliverance, provisions and love. Even though the Israelites had just been delivered from 400 years of cruel slavery in Egypt they moaned bitterly accusing Moses of trying to starve them in the desert.
Why do you think people so quickly forget God’s goodness to them?
Why do people choose to complain rather than thank God for all of His benefits they enjoy?
The BIBLE STORY helps us understand some of the ways that Christ provides our New Testament manna just as the Lord provide manna for the Israelites in the wilderness.
How does Christ provide us with New Testament manna?
What should we do if we find ourselves complaining about what we do not have?
How does Christ’s manna satisfy the longing of the spiritually hungry soul? How can we use the fact that Christ is our New Testament manna in witnessing to non-Christians?
5. Explore some of the reasons why the Israelites so quickly forgot the power of God’s deliverance, provisions and love. Even though the Israelites had just been delivered from 400 years of cruel slavery in Egypt they moaned bitterly accusing Moses of trying to starve them in the desert.
Why do you think people so quickly forget God’s goodness to them?
Why do people choose to complain rather than thank God for all of His benefits they enjoy?
6. God’s supply to His people in the New Testament is very similar to the way He supplied the Israelites with manna in the wilderness. God promises a speedy and constant supply to the New Testament believer through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, I am the bread of the life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.(John 6:35)
Whether in good times or bad times the Lord teaches us the satisfaction of His provisions.
7. The manna came down in dew. Our spiritual provision comes down from heaven in the person of Christ who supplies with everything we need everyday. Paul wrote, "Be filled with the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Gal. 5:16)
8. The Israelites found the manna each morning and found it to be pleasant, wholesome and nourishing. Jesus Christ gives a person satisfaction, wholesome values and spiritual nourishment for their soul. God saw to it that the manna fell only six days a week with a double quantity on the sixth day. The people learned that it bred worms and became offensive if kept for more than one day excepting on the sabbath. People need to meet with Jesus Christ in His word everyday to sustain their spiritual strength. The manna could be ground in a mill, or beaten in a mortar, and was then made into cakes and baked. The supply of daily manna continued the forty years the Israelites were in the wilderness, wherever they went, and ceased when they arrived in Canaan.
9. We can learn several lessons about our New Testament manna found in Christ. Let us be diligent in feeding our souls every morning with His word regardless of all the distractions around us.
10. Let us remember that those who are lazy and idle will soon become spiritually famished and grow weak. God gives us bountiful supply for everything we need, but we must do our duty if we expect Him to feed us. Let us learn to be content with the supply that the Lord gives us.
11. Remember that whoever has the most should have nothing left over and whoever has little should not lack any good thing. Be willing to share the good things the Lord has given with you to other members of the body of Christ. By sharing of the good resources God has given with those who are in need, God will enrich us all.
12. Let us rest securely knowing that God will provide us each day with enough for our needs. Do grow worried or angry that you do not have enough for tomorrow because each day has enough troubles of tis own.
13. Christ’s provisions are adequate on a daily basis and we cannot expect to hoard our resources because we do not know what troubles tomorrow will bring. Let us lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven because His storehouse is far more secure than any human bank. God’s supply is always fresher, sweeter and more satisfying than any gift given to you by people.
14. Those people who try to hoard their riches will surely see them become good for nothing as no human preservation effort is better than the Lord’s. People who live a life of covetousness will also live a life of waste, distrust and want. God’s supply enriches people without adding any sorrow to it unlike the provisions gotten by the arm of the flesh. Let us feed on our spiritual manna out of obedience and not for selfish interests. When they kept manna against a command, it stank. However, when they kept it by a command, it was sweet and good. Every thing is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
14. Since the Lord provided the manna in the wilderness, let us celebrate the bread of life with frequent times of communion services of remembrance. Remember Jesus Christ. Do not forget Him or the good things He has done for you. A short memory is a formula for becoming unhappy. God’s miracles and mercies are to be had in remembrance. The word of God is the manna by which our souls are nourished. (Matt. 4:4) Christ is our comfort in times of spiritual weakness.
15. Let us utilize all the opportunities that Christ provides for us or we will live with an eternity of regrets. Let us gather the spiritual benefits while we can because a time may be coming when it will be too late. Do not wait until you are old to feed on the bread of the word of God. Let us seek earnestly for the grace of the Holy Spirit, to turn all our knowledge of the doctrine of Christ crucified, into the spiritual nourishment of our souls by faith and love.
Memory Verse: Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)
Conclusion:
What should we do if we find ourselves complaining about what we do not have? How does Christ’s manna satisfy the longing of the spiritually hungry soul? How can we use the fact that Christ is our New Testament manna in witnessing to non-Christians?
Response:
Song: Jesus is the bread of life
Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you utilize all the aspects of Christ as the bread of life instead of complaining about shortages.
At Home: Ask your friends and family how they find the bread of life able to sustain them when they are facing shortages?
ILlustration:F.E. Marsh has enumerated some of God’s blessings:
An acceptance that can never be questioned. (Ephesians 1:6).
An inheritance that can never be lost (I Peter 1:3-5).
A deliverance that can never be excelled (2 Corinthians l:10).
A grace that can never be limited (2 Corinthians 12:9).
A hope that can never be disappointed. (Hebrews 6:18, 19).
A bounty that can never be withdrawn. (I Colossians 3:21-23).
A joy that need never be diminished (John 15:11).
A nearness to God that can never be reversed (Ephesians 2:13).
A peace that can never be disturbed (John 14:27).
A righteousness that can never be tarnished (2 Corinthians 5:21).
A salvation that can never be canceled (Hebrews 5:9).
F.E. Marsh.
