The Israelites: Lessons from Their Experience in the Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings

Trust for Provision

The account of captive Israel and their time in the desert is not unlike that of the Christian life, as the Christian also began in bondage - to sin.  By His sovereignty and grace, God also rescued (redeemed) the Christian.  Like the children of Israel, the Christian is filled with joy at being set free (Ex. 15:1-21), and begins by rejoicing and praising God for his deliverance from bondage.  Just as God endeavored to teach the children of Israel to trust Him for everything, God wants Christians today to learn to trust Him for their daily needs. 

At times, the Christian, like the children of Israel, will face trials and find himself in situations that may appear hopeless – apart from God’s intervention.  His maturity is marked by an increasing faith and a decreasing dependence on the need to see before believing.  If he believes and trusts God, as evident by his obedience, he too, will enter the “Promised Land.”

On the fifteenth day of the second month, after their escape from Egypt, the Israelites arrived in the Wilderness of Sin (Ex. 16:1).  The number of men was 600,000.  This number does not account for the women and children who accompanied them.  All total there may have been as many as two-million Israelites by some estimates.¹

While in the Wilderness of Sin, they begin to complain about the lack of food.  They were so full of self-pity that they said, “Would that we had died by the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt…” (Ex. 16:3).  They went on to accuse Moses and Aaron of bringing them out in to the desert to kill them!

I find it difficult to imagine how they could have gone from praising God and singing songs to Him only forty-five days earlier (Ex. 15), to wishing they had died in the land of Egypt.  After all, they were eyewitnesses to God’s supernatural power, which He executed on their behalf in order to secure their release!  Moreover, they walked on dry ground through the Red Sea, which God had parted, and watched in safety from the shoreline as those who held them in bondage for 430 years (Ex. 12:40-41) were drowned as they tried to cross in pursuit. 

Did the children of Israel really think that God went to these extremes only to allow them to perish before His very eyes, while on the way to the Promised Land?  Sadly, the answer is yes.  Yet, they had no valid reason for doubting God or that He would take care of them and provide for their needs. 

Like the children of Israel, I have no valid reason for doubting God either.  If He can take care of more than 600,000 people in the desert, He can certainly take care of me!  He went to extraordinary measures to demonstrate His love for me, too – while I was still dead in sin, He sent His son to die on the cross for me (Rom. 5:8).  Previous experience and the promise of His word should result in great confidence concerning future provision.

Unfortunately, the children of Israel focused on themselves instead of what God was doing.  When their needs were not met according to their timing, they began to doubt God’s promise and even resent their freedom. 

The nature of man is to be concerned with himself and satisfying the desires of his flesh.  God wants to change man’s focus from being self-centered to being God-centered.  This is modeled perfectly in the response given by Jesus to His disciples when they returned to find Him sitting at the well in Samaria.  The disciples were focused on food and eating but Jesus responds to them by saying, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”(Jn. 4:32) “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.” (Jn. 4:34) 

            Of course, God did provide food for the children of Israel in the form of manna.  His provision was daily (Ex. 16:4), it was adequate, and it was completely satisfying.²

Concerning the manna, God told Israel to take only what they needed for each day, except on the day before the Sabbath when He allowed them to collect provisions for two-days.

Obviously, God could have provided them enough food in one day to last them for six-weeks or six-years. However, God wanted the children of Israel to look to Him on a daily basis.  He wants me to trust Him on a daily basis, too.  He wanted them to learn to trust Him for their needs regularly.  Likewise, He wants me to have the faith that I can always depend on Him to meet my needs.

 The provision of manna was enough to meet the needs of the entire population and this miracle occurred even before the first census took place. This demonstrates to me that God knew exactly how many Israelites there were, even before they did.  He knows my need before I do and He knows it before I ask (Mat. 6:8). 

I note that God’s care for the children of Israel extended beyond the national level; it extended right down to the family and individual levels as well.  This seems apparent in the schedule He commanded them to ad hereto. They were to collect the manna for six-days and rest on the seventh day.  Likewise, I need a day of rest, too. 

Just as God put stipulations on the gathering of the manna, He may also put them on blessings he bestows in my life today.  If I ask the Lord for something in particular and He provides it, I should be sure to put it to use in the manner intended.   As a Christian, I need to be a good steward of the blessings that He has given me.  

God’s provision for Israel came with a test to see if they would obey Him (Ex. 16:4).  However, Israel ignored the instructions from God and gathered more than they should have; some of them even ventured out on the Sabbath looking for the manna (Ex. 16:27). 

Their attempt to gather more than they needed, only to have it spoil and prove useless, illustrates to me that spending time trying to gather more than I need is also fruitless, especially in light of the coming kingdom of God.  It might also reveal a lack of faith on my part to trust God for future provision.  It displeases the Lord when His children disobey Him (16:28).  He remains faithful even when those who call Him “Lord” do not.

The limited resources of the environment where Israel was camped had no impact on God’s ability to provide for them.  In fact, the Bible records God as saying that He would “rain bread from Heaven” (Ex. 16:4).  Israel’s lack of faith prevented them from imagining that God could sustain them in the desert.  They failed to consider God’s creative power and they were amazed when their eyes saw the manna for the first time (Ex. 16:15). 

As a Christian, I should never doubt God’s ability to provide for me, in spite of the circumstances that may exist.  God’s provision in my time of need may come in unexpected ways – like manna from Heaven. 

The children of Israel must have expected that life out from under the bondage they experienced in Egypt would be easy.  They apparently expected that along the way to the “Promised Land,” they would be in locations where food and water were plentiful.  Yet, God led them to places that had little of either - if any at all.  However, it was in these environments where God did some of the most incredible miracles in the entire Bible!   Unfortunately, Israel’s attitude while in the desert was to doubt, complain, and be resentful. 

When I find myself in situations or places where the things I need are not plentiful, or even non-existent, I need to remember the miracles God did in the presence of Israel during the exodus.  It was in that wilderness experience that God’s supernatural intervention is unmistakable and His power undeniably manifest.    

In my walk with the Lord, there have been seasons of life that seemed as though I was in the desert.  As I look back on those experiences, it is now clear that God was working in my life.  As I continue to follow the Lord, there will certainly be more “desert-like” experiences to come.  Although they are not pleasant at the time, they do present opportunities for God to build my faith, while at the same time giving Him the opportunity to get the glory He so rightly deserves.

Murmuring Against Those in Leadership

            Throughout their wilderness experience, the children of Israel often expressed themselves by murmuring and complaining.  Their reason for doing so varies slightly with each account.  The first instance of any complaint took place while they were still in bondage under Pharaoh.  After Moses and Aaron approached Pharaoh to ask him to release the children of Israel, Pharaoh became angry, and as a result, made their labor more difficult.  The “officers of the people” did not expect this response by Pharaoh to their new representative, Moses.  They were not happy about the results and made sure Moses new about it (Ex. 5:21).

When changes in leadership occur, as in this instance, from the “officers of the people” to Moses, it often results in new and unforeseen challenges for those people who are under that leadership.  Our response to challenges, because of changes in leadership, should not begin with grumbling or complaining; instead, we should trust God that the new leadership is in place because of His appointment.  Having this perspective allows us to accept the new leadership in spite of the unforeseen challenges or difficulties that may arise because of that change.  However, this is not an easy principal to apply to ones life, because the flesh does not like unexpected difficulty.  Nevertheless, we need to be willing to embrace it with all of the challenges that come with it.  In doing so, we are submitting to God, and honoring him by obeying his instructions to honor those who are in positions of authority over us. (Rom 13:1-2),

When the children of Israel entered in to the Wilderness of Sin, the Bible says that they “grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.” (Ex. 16:2)  However, Moses reveals something interesting about the nature of their complaint; He said, “And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us, but against the Lord.”  (Ex 16:8)  

When tempted to complain about someone who is in leadership over us, we need to remember that God placed that person there for a reason, and to complain or murmur against him or her, is really to do so against God.  God takes all sin very seriously, and this one is no different. 

Three-days after the children of Israel departed from Mt. Sinai, they were complaining in their camp yet again.  God heard them complaining and His anger was aroused.   The scripture says that it so displeased the Lord, that He destroyed some of them with fire.  The way in which God deals with this sin in Numbers 11:1 illustrates just how serious it is.  

By not complaining against those who are in leadership over us, we please the Lord by obeying His word.  As a result, we do not have to fear the disciplinary action that He may justifiably bring against us because of this sin.

People often think the act of complaining will have no affect on those around them.  However, the example found in Numbers 11, illustrates this to be a falsely held view.  In fact, complaining and murmuring can and will affect others.  It is dangerous because it motivates them to engage in the same type of behavior. 

If allowed to continue, complaining and murmuring have the potential to spread to those in positions of leadership as well.  They, too, may begin complaining as a means of expression.  This is exactly what happened with Moses after he had been exposed to their complaining for such a long period (Num. 11:11-15).  The constant complaining by the children of Israel wore on him to the point that he was even ready to be absolved from all responsibility of leading the people. 

We need to support those in leadership over us; they have tremendous responsibilities.  If we were to complain all the time about how they were handling those responsibilities, instead of encouraging them, they, like Moses, could become apathetic and decide to quit.  We need to pray for their strength and protection, and encourage them when we have the opportunity.

Perhaps the most dangerous consequence to unbridled complaining is its eventual usurping of authority.  After being around the children of Israel for so long, with all of their complaining and murmuring, Aaron and Miriam, Moses’ brother and sister, eventually lost their respect for Moses, too (Num. 12:1-2).  Were it not for God intervening and reaffirming His choosing of Moses to lead the people (Num. 12:5-9); the leadership structure would have certainly collapsed.

By the time the children of Israel reached the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh, the place from which they were to enter the “Promise Land,” their faith in Moses’ leadership had eroded to the point that they no longer trusted him at all.  This was the culmination of all their complaining and murmuring.  They refused to trust anyone who did not share their view of the situation.  When two of their own men, Caleb and Joshua, returned with news that the land was indeed theirs for the taking, they absolutely refused to go.  When Caleb tried to reassure them that God was with them and not to rebel, they wanted to stone him to death.  This was the final act of disobedience before missing their opportunity to enter the land of Canaan - which God had promised to them.  They would spend the next 40 years in the desert. 

  The seeds of this tragedy were sewn prior to Israel’s freedom from Egypt (Ex. 5:21).  Their practice of complaining about circumstances and those God had placed in positions of leadership, eventually led to all-out rebellion; as a result, they forfeited the very land they had traveled so far to inherit.  How very unfortunate, as they at one time completely trusted God and his servant, Moses (Ex.14:31).

At first, murmuring and complaining may seem like a harmless activity; however, if the practice does not stop soon after it begins; it could result in unforeseen and very costly consequences in the future. 

1. Roy R. Matheson, Old Testament Survey (Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1989, 1999, 2001), p. 39

2. Roy R. Matheson, Old Testament Survey (Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1989, 1999, 2001), p. 23