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Special Treats. Manna and Quail. Timeline. 15 th of 1 st month (Num 33:3-4): Israel leaves Egypt 15 th of 2 nd month: Manna and Quail (Ex 16:1) 3 rd new moon (i.e. 1 st of the 3 rd month): Israel reaches Sinai (Ex 19:1). Timeline.
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Special Treats Manna and Quail
Timeline • 15th of 1st month (Num 33:3-4): Israel leaves Egypt • 15th of 2nd month: Manna and Quail (Ex 16:1) • 3rd new moon (i.e. 1st of the 3rd month): Israel reaches Sinai (Ex 19:1)
Timeline • The Israelites take one week to gather manna (Ex 16), from about the 15th to the 22nd • This leaves only one week for the events of Ex 17-18! • Travel to Rephidim • Receive water from the rock (17:5-7) • Defeat the Amalekites in battle (17:8-16) • Set up a judicial structure whereby the cases of the Israelites can be judged (Ex 18) • Leave Rephidim and travel to Sinai
Rebellions in the Desert • Water at Marah (Ex 15:23-26) • Manna (Ex 16) • Water at Rephidim (Ex 17:1-7) • Golden Calf (Ex 32) • Israelites at Taberah (Num11:1-3) • Rabble at Kibroth-hattaavah (Num11:4-35) • Miriam and Aaron (Num12) • Response to Spies (Num14) • Korah(Num16) • Water at Meribah (Num20:2-13) • Bronze Serpent (Num21:4-9) • Worship of Baal at Peor (Num 25)
Motivations for Rebellion • Five rebellions motivated by concern for physical sustenance (Manna, Water at Rephidim and Meribah, Rabble, Bronze Serpent) • Two rebellions motivated by religious compromise (Golden Calf, Baal Peor) • Two rebellions motivated by leadership concerns (Miriam and Aaron, Korah) • Taberah—we know only that they complained; Spies’ rebellion was motivated by fear
The Murmuring (Ex 16:1-3) • Murmuring at Marah (Ex 15:23-26) • Notice that “the people murmured” (v. 24) • Which people? • Murmuring at Sin (Ex 16) • Notice the “whole congregation murmured” (v. 2) • Lesson: Murmuring spreads quickly and aggressively
The Murmuring • The Israelites wish for death in Egypt (v. 3) • Do they remember life in Egypt?—Ex 2:23! • The Israelites accuse Moses of being a murderer (v. 3) • Yet they wish to return to Pharaoh, a real murderer! (Ex 1:15ff) • Lesson: Murmuring is often irrational
How to Respond to Murmuring • Jesus Responds to Rejection: Luke 9:51-56 • Consider the source of the murmuring • Do not react emotionally and immediately • Walk away • God does not deny the people what they want • He offers them both bread and meat with restrictions: (1) they must collect it; (2) they must gather only a certain amount • Lesson: when people complain, put them to work!
Purpose Behind the Response • To confirm God’s deliverance (Ex 16:6) • God delivers us • To confirm God’s audience (Ex 16:7) • God hears us • To confirm God’s service through Moses and Aaron (Ex 16:8) • God needs servants • Lesson: God is ever present with his people
Conclusion • Even though a negative (murmuring) prompted the manna and quail, God made it a positive • It would be less than two weeks before the Israelites would complain again • Why did God choose this generation, rebellious and stubborn?