Scripture Daily

Context No. 3117 of 4322 · Exodus

Context · Reflection

Exodus 16:6-12: in context

6Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening, you shall know that the LORD has brought you out from the land of Egypt. 7In the morning, you shall see the LORD’s glory; because he hears your murmurings against the LORD. Who are we, that you murmur against us?” 8Moses said, “Now the LORD will give you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfy you, because the LORD hears your murmurings which you murmur against him. And who are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.” 9Moses said to Aaron, “Tell all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘Come close to the LORD, for he has heard your murmurings.’” 10As Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the LORD’s glory appeared in the cloud. 11The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12“I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At evening you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”

Israel grumbles in the wilderness for food, and Moses and Aaron answer: at evening you will know the LORD brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see his glory, for he has heard your grumbling. And Moses adds a pointed word: your grumbling is not against us, but against the LORD. Then God's glory appears, and he promises meat at evening and bread in the morning.

The sharp lesson is where the grumbling is really aimed. The people complained against Moses and Aaron, but Moses says plainly, your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD. Complaints about our circumstances, when God himself has ordered them, are finally complaints against God. And yet, remarkably, God's response to their grumbling is not punishment but provision, meat and bread, so that, he says, you shall know that I am the LORD your God. He answers ingratitude with grace, giving them what they need and revealing himself through the very gift.

When I grumble about my circumstances, do I recognize that the complaint is ultimately against God, and am I amazed that he so often answers even my grumbling with grace?

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