Passing A Test….

How often do we recognize hardship or suffering as a test from God? Here in Exodus chapter 16 we read of the Israelites complaining about not having any food. They’ve already turned on Moses twice before (the Red Sea and the bitter water at Marah), now they complete the whining-trifecta and want to lynch him and Aaron again. How does God react? Out of anger and retribution? Nope. He provides food, in the form of manna. His provision is a test. They are to gather daily, only what they need, not what they want. He tells them that whatever is left over, will be rotted by morning, which many found to be true the next day. How often do we see our hardship as a test from God? If we did, would we respond differently? If you are experiencing something difficult? Is it a test from God, or something you’ve brought on yourself by not listening or doing what you know to be wrong? If you are suffering from being obedient to God, know that it’s a test. It will soon end. And in order to pass this test, you have to continue to be obedient. In our toughest times, the continuation of following God, doing the right thing, and drawing on our faith in Him, will be rewarded. Passing a test from God involves one thing: obedience. It’s grade (reward) is deeper faith. If it weren’t for testing, our faith wouldn’t grow, it would stagnate and we would live by complaining all the time. Sound familiar?

1 Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. 2 There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.3 “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow My instructions. 5 On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.” Exodus 16:1-5

17 So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.19 Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” 20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them. Exodus 16:17-20

27 Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. 28 The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey My commands and instructions? 29 They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. That is why He gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.” 30 So the people did not gather any food on the seventh day. Exodus 16:27-30