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Who Does This?
Who does this? Who is nice to people who complain against them?
Exodus 16:11-12
In high school and college, I worked at fast food restaurants. And if you want to tip on how to deal with service workers, being nice always helps. Someone’s a lot more likely to do something nice for you if you in turn, are nice to them.
In the book of Exodus, God’s people are journeying through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, and they run out of food. But instead of trusting in God and asking him nicely to provide, they start to grumble and complain. This seems ridiculous. They’ve seen the miracles God has done for them. Why don’t they get it? But so often we fall into that same exact trap, but with things that are far more petty. We often struggle with contentment. There’s always a new toy to buy, another purchase to ponder, an investment or retirement account to worry about. We fall into that same exact attitude of why don’t I have what I want? Why isn’t God giving me what I want?
Although God had a reason to punish the Israelites and us, instead he chooses to provide for his people. We read from Exodus 16, verses 11 and 12.
The Lord spoke to Moses: “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Say to them, ‘At evening you will eat meat, and in the morning you will eat bread until you are full. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” (Exodus 16:11-12)
Who does this? Who is nice to people who complain against them? God is. Because he regards his promises higher than the sins of his people. God promised to provide for the Israelites, and he did so miraculously by sending them flocks of quail and making bread appear on the ground. God has promised to provide for us also. And he will do so as well.
But these physical blessings only make sense in the larger, more important context. God provides for us not just physically, but spiritually. When we were held in slavery by sin and death, Christ came to set us free by his death on the cross. Jesus is now leading us through the wilderness of this life into the promised land of the life to come. God provides for our bodies because he has already rescued our souls from sin, death, and hell. The physical blessings only make sense within the larger context. God provides for his people because he loves them and cares for them and forgives them. Amen.
