Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon summary and transcript:
Bible ReadingExodus 16:1-36 (ESV)
1 Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim, and they journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.
2 And the whole community of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,
3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
4 Then the LORD said to 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 test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather each day.”
6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. What are we, that you grumble against us?”
8 And Moses said, “This will happen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because the LORD hears your grumbling that you grumble against him. What are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.”
9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Draw near to the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.’”
10 And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
11 And the LORD said to Moses,
12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’”
13 When it was evening, quail came up and covered the camp. And in the morning, there was a layer of dew around the camp.
14 When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the face of the wilderness was a fine, flaky substance, like frost on the ground.
15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.
16 This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, according to his need, one omer per person, according to the number of persons, each of you shall take for those in his tent.’”
17 The people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less.
18 But when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Each gathered according to his need.
19 Then Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it until morning.”
20 Notwithstanding, they did not obey Moses. Some left part of it until the morning, and it bred worms and became foul. And Moses was angry with them.
21 They gathered it morning by morning, each according to his need. When the sun grew hot, it melted.
22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much, two omers per person. And all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses.
23 And he said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded. Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over, put away to be kept until the morning.”
24 So they put it away until the morning, as Moses commanded. And it did not become foul, nor was there any worm in it.
25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field.
26 You shall gather it for six days, but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, there will be none.”
27 But some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, and they found none.
28 And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?
29 See, the LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore he gives you bread for two days in the sixth day. Remain, each of you, in your place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.”
30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
31 The house of Israel called its name manna. It was like white coriander seed, and its taste was like cakes made with honey.
32 Then Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”
33 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the LORD for your generations.”
34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the testimony for safekeeping.
35 The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna, until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.
Observation questions- The Israelites complained about their situation in the wilderness, longing for the "pots of meat" and "bread" they had in Egypt. What specific things did they miss about their former life, and why was it problematic for them to focus on these things? [06:07]
- God's response to the Israelites' complaints was to provide manna. What was the stated purpose of this provision, according to Exodus 16:4?
- The instructions for gathering manna included gathering "as much as you need for that day" and not saving any for the morning, except for the sixth day. What happened when some people disobeyed this instruction? [25:10]
- The text mentions a "solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD" on the sixth day. What was the significance of this command in relation to the manna? [37:08]
Interpretation questions- The sermon suggested that the Israelites were using "last season's faith" to try and access "this season's provision." [03:15] How does the Israelites' grumbling in Exodus 16 illustrate this idea of relying on past experiences rather than trusting God for current needs?
- The manna was described as looking like coriander but tasting like honey wafers. [10:29] What might this unusual combination represent about how God often provides for us in ways that are new and perhaps unexpected, rather than exactly what we might have imagined?
- The sermon highlighted that "God is not proving whether he can provide. He's determining whether you can trust." [12:56] How does the Israelites' reaction to the manna, particularly their initial confusion and questioning ("What is it?"), reveal their struggle with trusting God's provision?
- The concept of "faith drunk" was contrasted with being "faithless." [29:32] How might the Israelites' desire for the familiar comforts of Egypt, even after experiencing God's deliverance, be seen as a form of "faith drunk" thinking, where they assumed they knew what was best for them?
Application questions- We often find ourselves using "last season's faith" when facing new challenges or seasons in life. Can you think of a time when a past spiritual victory or a familiar way of praying didn't seem to work for a current situation? What did you learn from that experience about needing a "new password" for your faith? [02:58]
- The Israelites' anxiety led them to hoard manna, which then spoiled. [25:10] When have you experienced anxiety about provision that caused you to hold onto things (whether material, relational, or spiritual) too tightly, only to find they became unhelpful or even detrimental?
- God established a daily rhythm of gathering and rest with the manna. [14:12] How can we intentionally build a daily rhythm of dependence on God into our lives, rather than just relying on Him during crises or special occasions?
- The sermon mentioned that "God supplies to our need, not our strategy." [24:47] In what areas of your life might you be trying to implement your own strategy for provision or success, instead of trusting God's daily supply for your actual needs?
- The ultimate provision mentioned was the spotless Lamb on Calvary. [42:29] How does reflecting on Jesus as our "manna" from heaven change the way you approach your daily needs and challenges?
- The idea of "daily bread" emphasizes a relational dependence on the Father. [31:16] When was the last time you felt you were living on "yesterday's intimacy" with God, and what steps can you take this week to seek fresh intimacy with Him? [32:51]
- The sermon encouraged us to distinguish between "faith drunk" and true faith. [29:32] How can you actively practice discerning between your own preferences and God's instructions in your decision-making this week?
