Exodus 16:1-8--Manna and Quail Provided

Exodus 16:1-8 
World English Bible

16 They took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to 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. 2 The whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness; 3 and the children of Israel said to them, “We wish that we had died by Yahweh’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

4 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from the sky 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 It shall come to pass on the sixth day, that they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”

6 Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening, you shall know that Yahweh has brought you out from the land of Egypt. 7 In the morning, you shall see Yahweh’s glory; because he hears your murmurings against Yahweh. Who are we, that you murmur against us?” 8 Moses said, “Now Yahweh will give you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfy you, because Yahweh hears your murmurings which you murmur against him. And who are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against Yahweh.”

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They stayed at Elim (the oasis with 70 palm trees) until one month after Passover (the full moon in the month of Iyyar).  They entered the wilderness that was between Elim and Sinai (probably the very area that Moses lived in when he was a fugitive).

As soon as they get into the wilderness (remember, the LORD is leading them by way of the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire) they grumble and complain that they are being led out into the wilderness to die and that they would have been better to stay in Egypt.  This seems to be a common refrain like they realized that slavery in Egypt is what they really deserved and that they also deserve death, and they can't wrap their heads around how a holy God could live among them and not destroy them.  What is it that makes them long to go back into slavery in Egypt?  They desire to fill their bellies with meat (I'm not really sure they were living lives of luxury in Egypt, but in their minds, they would be living high on the hog if they returned to slavery in Egypt).

The LORD hears their grumbling and complaining and gives them manna (bread from heaven) each morning and quail to eat in the evenings.  Though the LORD is not pleased with their grumbling and complaining and Moses and Aaron correctly identify that they know the target of their complaints is not in their human leaders, but is truly against the LORD Himself--He is the one leading them and providing for them.  This will be a common theme, especially through the book of Numbers.  The parents will teach their children to be grumblers and complainers.  The question then is "Are we any better?"  Do we too see to go back to our old lives because we favorably remember the things that satisfied our appetites and we'd rather live and die in slavery? Before we point fingers, let's examine ourselves.