Exodus - Part 19 - Exodus 15:22-16:36

The children of Israel are leaving the Red Sea behind and journeying into the wilderness. They traveled for three days into the wilderness, coming to Marah. But, the water was not drinkable so they complained to Moses. Moses cried out to God and God showed him a tree which Moses threw into the water and it became drinkable. Here, God began to test the Israelites to see if they would follow His statutes. God told them He would protect them from the diseases He put on the Egyptians. So they traveled on to Elim where there was plenty of water and palm trees.

Then they continued on into the wilderness. Soon enough the Israelites were complaining again. This time about food. They wished they had stayed in Egypt where there were pots of meat and abundant bread. God told Moses that He would rain bread and quail on the camp, which the Israelites could go out and gather a certain amount. It was another test of Israel’s obedience. Moses and Aaron told the people to come near to the Lord, because God heard their complaint.

God’s glory appeared to Israel, and at twilight quail came. In the morning there was a substance on the ground that the Israelites called Manna because they didn’t know what it was. Moses told them it was the bread God promised. Moses instructed the people to gather an omer, which was approximately 9.3 cups, every day of the week and on the sixth day to gather twice as much because of the Sabbath. He warned them not to leave any uneaten overnight, but some people didn’t listen and it rotted.

But, on the sixth day, whatever they left overnight didn’t rot, because God provided for them on the Sabbath. On the Sabbath they were not supposed to go out to gather, but some people didn’t listen. God wonders how long the people will refuse to follow His laws, and Moses has to correct the people’s behavior so that they rested on the Sabbath. God also commanded Moses to save some Manna in a jar as a permanent reminder to the people of how the Lord provided for them.