John 6:48-50
48 I am the bread of life.
49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
The Israelites were in the desert where water was of little supply and there were no stores to buy food or supplies. But they didn't have to rely on their own resources to meet their needs. They had the power and favor of God. Even though they often had trouble believig His promises, He was faithful to take care of them.
Have you ever had that problem of believing in Gods promises? Of course we have, often times we have seen God deliver what He promised He would do and yet we still have a hard time believing.
The same God that provided everything in the wilderness can still meet our needs. Nothing is to big for Him.
- Water In The Desert
The Israelites experienced that a problem in the wilderness. They traveled for three days without finding drinking water. When they finally arrived at the water source, it was so bitter that no one was able to drink it.
God sometimes allows us to face difficulties, knowing that such times cause us to depend on Him and help us grow in our relationship with Him.
Exodus 15:25
So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.
There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them,
In this verse it states that God used the circumstances to test the Israelites. He wanted to reveal to them their level of trust in Him. He taught them that if they would obey Him, He would meet their physical needs and keep them free of disease.
Jest as He had brought goodness to the water, He would provide them with strength and health.
The people directed their complaints toward Moses, they were really griping about God.
In Exodus 17 the people were so angry and demanding that Moses was afraid they might kill him. But God continued to deal patiently with the Israelites.
- Food From Heaven
Exodus 16:2-4
2 Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.
3 And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.
Even though only a short time had passed, they apparently had forgotten about the way God delivered them from slavery and provided water at Marah.
It seams that had forgotten all of the horrors of their situation in Egypt.
Our memories often have a way of distorting reality. For example, when we're tempted to sin we may recall how easy or fun it was the last time without thinking about what it almost cost us.
God promises to respond to our prayers, not out complaints. Prayer increases our faith and helps us establish and mature in a relationship with God. Complaining reveals a lack of faith and gets in the way of our relationship with God.
While God desires to meet our physical needs, He also understands our spiritual needs. God cares about everything that concerns us, but His main priority is bringing people into a right relationship with Him.
- A Savior For A Needy World
John 6:48-50
48 I am the bread of life.
49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
Manna sustained the israelites physically, But God knew that people needed more than food. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to provide forgiveness and eternal life for all who trust in Him and would ask Him for salvation.
In spite of our rebellion and lack of faith, God hasn't given up on meeting our needs.