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. 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." 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." 9 Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.'" 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. 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.'" 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.
Exodus 16:2-15
After God had delivered the Israelites from slavery and suffering in Egypt, the newly freed slaves celebrated God’s amazing gifts of freedom, prosperity, and a bright future by grumbling. They were grumbling because they were out in the desert without any food. It was apparent to them that the wilderness in which they were camped didn’t have nearly enough life in it for them to be fed. Even though God had assured them that He would take care of them, they were overcome by their situation and grumbled against God. They even said that they were better off as slaves being taken care of by the Egyptians than as free people being cared for by God!
The Hebrew word telunna that is translated as “grumbling” or “murmuring” refers to “an act of rebellion, disbelief, and disobedience to duly constituted authority.” As Moses pointed out to the Israelites, they were not grumbling against him (or Aaron), but against God. Their grumbling was their way of telling God that He was not a good giver and provider. How amazing! But even more amazing is God’s response to these grumblers: He sent them meat and bread to eat!
Like the Israelites of long ago, we can easily forget the many gifts that God has given to us. We can look past our blessings of freedom, prosperity, and a bright future and focus on the momentary troubles that annoy us. When we lock in on the things in our lives that we don’t like, we’re apt to complain to God. Soon our complaining to God becomes a complaining against God. We judge Him to be a poor giver and provider. How amazing! But even more amazing is His response to us grumblers: He gives us the Bread of Life, His Son Jesus.
God is a good giver and provider — there is none better. He knows exactly what we need, when we need it, and how much is sufficient for us. He never fails to provide what He knows is best for each of us. When we are not satisfied with what God has given us and we grumble against Him, He shows us anew that He is the perfect giver and provider so we are able to rejoice in His goodness and be a blessing to others.
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