1/31 Exodus 16 - Complaining About God's Blessings

God has all kinds of reasons for why He gives us what He does but we may not always understand what He's given us or why. Today, we're going to look at Exodus 16, when the Lord gives His people quail, manna and the Sabbath and yet they still complained! Today, we'll look into these blessings of God how to rejoice in all that God gives to us. Join us!

DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS:

1.    As we turn to Exodus 16, the events of this passage took place in the Valley of Sin. What this “sin” like in “Sin City” or did the term “sin” speak to something else? 
2.    In verse 3, the people were remembering their slavery with fondness and complaining to Moses about their present lack of food. How can a present difficulty cause us to glamorize things in the past, or more importantly, how can present difficulty sometimes cause us to be unhappy with God’s blessings in our present situation? 
3.    This chapter is mostly about God’s provision of manna. Do you think this was a blessing from the Lord? Why? 
4.    Why did the people have to gather manna every day? What would happen if they tried to store it on any day but the Sabbath? What happened when they stored it over the Sabbath? How would this have shown the people that the manna was directly from the Lord and not some natural phenomena? 
5.    What did the Lord want they people to do on the Sabbath in verses 29 & 30? What was the Sabbath supposed to be about? Why do you think this would have been a blessing to the people? 
6.    Is the Sabbath still binding for New Covenant Christians? If not, what principles of the Sabbath still carry over into our lives today? What does this show us about the principle of carving out time each week to rest and renew in the Lord?
7.    Later in John 6:35, Jesus calls Himself the “Bread of Life”. In light of this passage’s teaching on manna, what do you think Christ meant when He called Himself this? What does this point to in our present-day relationship with Jesus?
8.    The end of the podcast mentions that Exodus 18 and Leviticus 7 & 11 seem to imply that the Jews had other foods to eat besides just manna, yet manna was clearly a key part of their diet. Why do you think the people complained so much about something that was so graciously and miraculously given to them by God? How should we respond to God’s work in our life when it’s not what we’d like, but it is what we need?
9.    Is there any place in your personal life, where you’re tempted to complain with the life situation that you’re in? First, trust that God knows your pain and suffering. Then, be prayerfully watching and waiting for His work in your situation. What provisions has He given to you to help you not only endure but even to thrive in your situation? 

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