Kingdom Foreshadowed Part 5
At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Foreshadowed,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
This week, as we continue our Kingdom Foreshadowed series, we will examine some of God’s actions as He leads the people of Israel into the wilderness on their journey to the Promised Land.
Exodus 16:1–4 (NIV)
1 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.
In Exodus 16:1-4, God used the miraculous provision of manna to teach the Israelites about trust and dependence on Him. This passage highlights a critical moment in the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, where their faith and obedience were put to the test.
As the Israelites traveled through the desert, they faced harsh conditions and food scarcity, which led them to grumble against Moses and Aaron. Their complaints revealed a lack of trust in God’s provision despite witnessing His mighty acts in Egypt and during their escape through the Red Sea. In response to their grumbling, God provided a miraculous solution: manna, a bread-like substance that appeared each morning, sufficient for their daily needs.
The provision of manna was more than just meeting their physical hunger; it was a divine lesson in trust. By instructing the Israelites to gather only enough manna for each day, God taught them to rely on Him daily. This daily dependence was intended to shift their focus from their circumstances to God’s faithfulness and care. Any attempt to gather more than needed resulted in the excess manna spoiling, reinforcing the lesson that hoarding and self-reliance were not only unnecessary but also futile in the face of God’s abundant provision.
In essence, the provision of manna was a continuous, daily reminder of God’s presence and care. It taught the Israelites that their survival and well-being depended not on their efforts but on God’s unwavering faithfulness. Through this, they learned they could trust Him to meet their needs, one day at a time.
We will discuss all this and more this weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
