[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2026]
The Israelites ate manna for forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.
Exodus 16 v35 [NIVUK]
Last week we looked at some ‘postcards’ that showed the progress of the Children of Israel as they journeyed from Egypt to Canaan, as recorded in Numbers chapter 33. Closer examination reveals that the list of places is not so dry as a journey in the wilderness might suggest.
The cohort that left Rameses numbered about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.[1] The Israelites soon realised that the provisions that they had brought from Egypt were rapidly being exhausted. Moreover, after three days in the desert they urgently needed to find water.
When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, ‘What are we to drink?’
Exodus 15 v23-24 [NIVUK]
Do we resort to grumbling when things do not turn out as we think they should?
God enabled Moses to make the water fit to drink but it was no doubt with a sense of delight that the people arrived at Elim and found an oasis with 12 springs and 70 palms trees.[2]
Do we become complacent when we think we have found paradise?
Do we resist moving on, even when God has promised us something better?
The people moved on into the Desert of Sin in the Sinai peninsular. Once again they ran short of resources and, once again, they grumbled. God provided them with manna and quails on a daily basis for the next forty years. Nevertheless, it was not long before the people started complaining about their monotonous diet.[3]
Is there a risk that we become over familiar with God’s daily blessings and start to become dissatisfied?
In due course the Israelites arrived at Rephidim where they faced double trouble.
They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarrelled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
Numbers 17 v1-2, 8 [NIVUK]
Are we tempted to feel overwhelmed when problems start to mount up?
Do we neglect to take them to the Lord in prayer?
The ensuing battle demonstrated the power of shared prayer.
As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
Exodus 17 v11-12 [NIVUK]
In this picture we see Moses the law-giver, with Aaron and Hur representing the religious and administrative leadership of the Israelite community. Together they were praying for God’s people to be victorious.
Do we pray for our leaders even, or especially, when they do things that we do not like?
Are we quick to criticise and slow to support them?
Despite their grumbling and frequent disobedience the Lord maintained a presence with his people:
By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
Exodus 13 v21 [NIVUK]
In 1951 Sidney Cox wrote some words that can serve to encourage us as we face circumstances that we could treat as either problems or opportunities.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, All I have to do is follow.
Strength for today is mine alway, And all that I need for tomorrow.
References:
[1] Exodus 12:37
[2] Exodus 15:27
[3] Numbers 11:4-6
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Last week’s reflection: Postcards from the Wilderness
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys