Charles Spurgeon Commentary Exodus 16
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Exodus 16
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Exodus 16
"And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness:" — Exodus 16:1-2 (ASV)
They have been only about six weeks in the wilderness, and already they are up in arms against their leaders. Remember that we have the same kind of people to deal with as Moses and Aaron had.
The children of Israel were no better than any other nation; and I do not think they were any worse. We may take them as a fair average of human nature, which is a discontented, rebellious thing in the best of circumstances.
"and the children of Israel said unto them, Would that we had died by the hand of Jehovah in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger." — Exodus 16:3 (ASV)
They forgot all about the brick-making, and the whips, and the iron bondage, and they remembered nothing but the fleshpots of Egypt. Alas! How soon, when we escape from a great trial, we forget it! The present much smaller one seems far heavier than the one that is past.
"Then said Jehovah unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day`s portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not." — Exodus 16:4 (ASV)
See God's answer to man's murmuring. They send up their complaint, and he promises to rain bread down from above. It is a blessed story on God's part all along; a rain of mercy for a smoke of complaining.
"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God." — Exodus 16:11-12 (ASV)
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel:
"I have heard them." God always does hear. Oh, his wonderful patience! If he took no notice of the murmurers, or punished them for their wickedness, we should have no cause for wonder; but he is longsuffering, even to those who do not deserve his pity.
"I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God." — Exodus 16:12 (ASV)
Speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.
"There shall be no mistake about who I am. I will work this miracle in such a Godlike style, and on such a divine scale, that you shall know that I am Jehovah your God."
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