EXPLORE THE TEXT
God is able to provide for any need we have.
11 The Lord spoke to Moses,
12 “I have heard the complaints of the Israelites.
Tell them: At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will eat bread until you are full.
Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
13 So at evening quail came and covered the camp.
In the morning there was a layer of dew all around the camp.
as fine as frost on the ground.
15 When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another,
“What is it?” because they didn’t know what it was.
Moses told them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.”
The waters of Marah
God often follows up mountaintop experiences with valleys of testing.
Following God’s victory over Egypt at the Red Sea, He led Israel into the Wilderness of Shur,
a desolate region in the northern Sinai peninsula.
The first big challenge they faced was a lack of water.
After three days, they found water at a spot called Marah (which means “bitter”).
But, as its name implied, the water was not fit to drink (Ex. 15:22-23).
Instead of trusting God, the people grumbled against Moses (15:24).
In response, God performed yet another miracle of provision through Moses.
This was a preview of things to come,
but the people’s negative attitude and lack of faith also served as a cautionary tale for His people.
“Educating God’s People in the Wilderness.”
God had delivered His people and their next step was learning to follow Him obediently.
what did a “three-day trip” mean to the Israelites
as well as similar ways we may say one thing and mean another.
consider how God has used “wilderness” times
to lead you and to shape you into His image.
Spend time thanking Him for the hard times
and consider sharing some examples with the adults in your Bible study.
The celebratory song that Moses and the Israelites sang after the Red Sea deliverance included this verse:
“With your faithful love, you will lead the people you have redeemed;
you will guide them to your holy dwelling with your strength.” (Ex. 15:13).
Later, when Israel arrived at Mount Sinai, the Lord reminded them that He had personally carried them on “eagles’ wings”
and personally led them by His presence each step of the way in the wilderness (19:4).
Redeemed people may count on the Lord leading them with His presence to wherever He wants them to be.
As Paul wrote, “All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons” (Rom. 8:14).
the deeper reason for God moving His people through the desert (Hos. 2:14).
was not a matter of judgment or punishment against them.
Instead, it was an act of love and compassion.
The Lord had brought them to a place of absolute need so they would turn to Him as the only One capable of meeting that need.
He wanted to show His abundant love by providing for them, but they had to trust Him.
He displayed His glory not only by demonstrating His power
over the seas and over their enemies,
but He also revealed Himself by caring for His children in difficult circumstances (16:7,12).
true satisfaction comes from obeying God’s words.
While God is gracious in meeting our physical needs, we should never forget that our greatest needs are spiritual.
Thankfully, God has made a way for those needs to be met as well.
He provides our “daily bread” in every way imaginable (Matt. 6:11).
review verses 13-15 (PSG, pp. 57-58).
Lead a brief discussion on God’s provision of quail and manna.
God’s sovereign rule and His compassionate provision took care of the people.
The quail mentioned in the Bible were smaller, migratory birds. Likely, this flock had stopped to rest after a long flight. Because they were weak fliers and tired, the birds would have been easy targets for the hungry Hebrews.
The provision of quail is only mentioned here, in Numbers 11:31-32, and in Psalm 105:40.
The main focus throughout the wilderness years is placed on the manna.
“What is it?”: In addition to the quail in the evening, God provided again in the morning.
When the Israelites came out of their tents that day, a layer of fine flakes covered the ground.
Moses called it the bread the Lord has given you, and it could be found every morning except the Sabbath.
The fact that it came miraculously six mornings a week for forty years should have taught Israel to look humbly to the Lord to meet their needs (Deut. 8:2-3).