Bible Study Summary - Sunday's Upcoming Scripture

Sermon: “In Your Wildest Dreams: Your Wilderness”

Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15

Chapters 15 – 18 tell the story of the Lord leading the newly freed people through the wilderness to God’s holy mountain.  There’s a contrast between the faithfulness of the Lord and the grumbling of the Israelites.  The wilderness also emphasizes how the Israelites were on a journey with God. 

Exodus 16

-         The problem of lack of food for the Israelites.  The manna was bread from heaven which the Lord used to feed the Israelites.

-         Verses 2-3 The people challenge the Lord, Moses, and Aaron.  They want to go back to the past.  It’s hard to get the Egypt out of the people. 

-         Question: How do we celebrate our church’s bicentennial in 2012 and our past history without sacrificing our need to focus on the future? 

-         Verse 5 – First mention of “Sabbath” since Genesis 2:1-4!  The Lord is emphasizing the need to work 6 days and rest on the 7^th by providing manna for only 6 days of the week.  (The people collect a double portion on the 6^th day to sustain them for the 7^th day.)

-         This is a story that emphasizes the importance of living moment by moment in dependence upon God’s gracious provisions.

-         We cannot store up God’s grace.  We need to receive it anew each day. 

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