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Transition Sermons

Sermon 2 "The Manna" Exodus 16 (Page 61)

March 9^th 2008

As we are looking at the topic of transition we started last week with a few illustrations. We started with the illustration of how people often respond to change.

In the 1780s, Ben Franklin and the Duke of Orleans sent up a hot air balloon over France. As it descended into a farmer's field, people rushed at it with sticks, pitch-forks and clubs. They attacked it in a frenzy and beat it, certain it was the moon, having fallen to earth. Why did they act this way? Change can be disconcerting.

As we go through this series I want us to be thinking about our transition from a small church (under 70 people) to a medium church (70 – 150 people). One of the major changes that occurs is a change in mindset. In a small church the mindset of the Sunday service and most functions tends to focus on "us" and "our needs." The dominant descriptive is "family" and churches of this size tend to have the majority of their relational needs met inside the church. At this size many members no longer have friends outside of the church. Sadly, most churches of Christ do not move past this level of attendance.

In a medium size church the mindset of the Sunday service tends to be on "others" and what they need to connect to God. Sunday service is a place to invite people so that they meet others who become a part of their small group. It is within the small groups that "family" bonds are formed. Many people in a medium size church connect with about 20 people which leaves them room for other friendships in which to share the good news.

I want to make this clear. The content of the Sunday service can be the same with a small church or medium church. No radical or unbiblical changes need be made to draw people in from the street. The change is in having space and desire to invite others to services that help them know God and make Him known. Biblical preaching that shows the integrity of the word and application of scripture is absolutely necessary. If you have specific questions please talk to the Elders or myself.

There is a phrase that we use that says this: "The only constant is change." That is a funny oxymoron but it is true, change is constant and over the next few weeks we are going to be looking at how the Israelites handled the changes that they encountered during the Exodus. In particular, we will be looking at when they complained, and how God responded.

We are always in transition. We are becoming older, smarter, thinner or heavier, etc. We change physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. God has intended us to be this way and he wants us to seek Him and His guidance as we change.

Today we are looking at Exodus 16 (Page 61) to see the second major complaint after crossing the Red Sea.

As we look at these texts I want us to gain answers to these questions:

	Was the complaint a reasonable one?
	What was underneath the concern?
	How did Moses respond?
	How did God respond?
	What can we learn from this?

If you turn your Bibles back to Exodus 13-14 you will se the record of the people going through the water of the Red Sea and being delivered from the Egyptians. In favor of the people, they have gone through a number of transitions already. The last few years have not been easy ones. But God has been their guide and he is teaching them about his character. God is faithful and trustworthy and his people need to know that.

Last week we looked at the complaints about the water to show that under their complaint about the water was a concern that God was not trustworthy or powerful. God’s provision of the water, and the crossing of the Red Sea, should have increased their faith enough to impact how they respond to the concern about the manna.

Exodus 16:1-36 Page 61 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."

The people complain to Moses and Aaron and they have selected memories.

They are leader focused and not God focused.

This request for food is different than the one in Numbers 11:18-20.

The Lord then takes care of their needs.

He takes care of their physical and spiritual need.

EX 16:4 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. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."

Moses conveys the message.

He tries to connect the answer with God and not himself.

EX 16:6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?" 8 Moses also said, "You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD."

EX 16:9 Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, `Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.' "

EX 16:10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.

The Lord speaks to Moses and takes care of the need.

God is "leader focused" and expects the leader to show who He is.

EX 16:11 The LORD said to Moses, 12 "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, `At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.' "

EX 16:13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is what the LORD has commanded: `Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' "

EX 16:17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.

EX 16:19 Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."

Some people do not obey at all but the group seems to do well.

EX 16:20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

EX 16:21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much--two omers for each person--and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 23 He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: `Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.' "

God gives a further warning.

EX 16:24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any."

Now listen to God’s response about the faithlessness of the few.

EX 16:27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out." 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

EX 16:31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: `Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.' "

EX 16:33 So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the LORD to be kept for the generations to come."

EX 16:34 As the LORD commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna in front of the Testimony, that it might be kept. 35 The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. EX 16:36 (An omer is one tenth of an ephah.)

Now let’s look at the questions that I mentioned earlier.

	Was the complaint a reasonable one? Physically people need food. On that level that had something going for them. Have you had the same meal too many times?

	What was underneath the concern? The bigger questions could have been concerns about whether God can provide or if God was the one to follow. They are tired of transition so they see the old way as better than the new.

	How did Moses respond? This time he leads them to God and does not make a plea for himself. Verse 8 records this: Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD."

	How did God respond? God now tests the people. He has given them enough reason to follow so now he tests their motivation. God could have provided differently but he did take care of them. It was not physically better, food wise, for them in the desert, it was spiritually better for them and that is what God wanted them to focus on.

The Lord is such a great provider that his people can have a day of rest.


	What can we learn from this? God is more concerned with our spiritual health that our physical contentment. He wants us to know him for the right motivation and we can count on his faithfulness to his people. God will take care of you in his way not your way and sometimes the old way will look pretty good, but that is just selective memory.

As we conclude today I want to close with the same questions as last week.

How are you dealing with the transitions in your life? What do you tend to complain about? What concerns are on your mind?

God is there and He has guidance and support as you transition. Take the time to get to know God so that you can trust in His character and in who he calls to lead you through this time. Let him take care of you in his way.


	There were two major things that kept the people going through the wilderness, God’s presence and trust that He would end the journey in the Promised Land. So this week we can seek His presence and ask for clarity in where He is leading us…but keep moving, one step at a time, struggle if you must, but God has great things ahead of you. Resist the urge to turn back.

Vernon Church of Christ

4107 Pleasant Valley Road

Vernon, BC V1T 4M1 Canada

(250) 545-6892

vernonchurchofchrist@telus.net

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