Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP 20 January 2024
Text: Exodus 16:1-16
Title: “Complaints against the LORD”

INTRODUCTION

1. The Journey to the Promised Land

a) Out of Egypt

b) Through the Red Sea

c) Into a Wilderness

2. The Provision of the LORD

a) His Presence

i) By day

ii) By night

b) His power

i) Dividing the Red Sea

ii) Crossing Dry-shod

COMPLAINT AGAINST MOSES AND AARON

1 And they journeyed 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 they departed from the land of Egypt.
2 Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.
3 And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

Exodus 16:1-3

1. In the Wilderness of Sin

a) Between Elim and Sinai

b) On 15th day of the 2nd Month

2. The children of Israel complained

a) Against Moses and Aaron

b) “The whole congregation of the children of Israel” Exodus 16:2

3. The Content of the Complaint

a) Wish to die by the hand of the LORD in Egypt Exodus 16:3a

b) Egypt remembered:

i) Pots of meat

ii) Bread to the full Exodus 16:3b

c) Being killed in the wilderness by hunger Exodus 16:3c

GOD’S RESPONSE

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 certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.
5 And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”

Exodus 16:4-5

1. The LORD

a) He was aware

b) He spoke to Moses

2. The Promise of Provision

a) Bread from heaven Exodus 16:4a

b) A test for the children of Israel Exodus 16:4b

c) To gather twice as much Eve of Sabbath Exodus 16:5

INSTRUCTION FROM MOSES AND AARON

6 Then Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening you shall know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt.
7 And in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD; for He hears your complaints against the LORD. But what are we, that you complain against us?”
8 Also Moses said, “This shall be seen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the LORD hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD.”

Exodus 16:6-8

1. You shall know

That the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt

Exodus 16:6

2. Understanding the nature of Complaints

a) The complaints are “against the LORD” Exodus 16:7,8

b) Not Aaron and/or Moses

3. The LORD’s Promise

a) Meat in the evening

b) Bread in the morning Exodus 16:8

MOSES’ INSTRUCTION TO AARON

9 Then Moses spoke to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘Come near before the LORD, for He has heard your complaints.’”
10 Now it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
11 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
12 “I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’ ”

Exodus 16:9-12

1. Aaron is to address the people

a) To draw near to the LORD

b) He has heard their complaints

2. The Glory of the LORD

a) This was a special Manifestation

b) It appeared in the Cloud

3. God’s word to Moses

a) “I have heard the complaints of the people” Exodus 16:12a

b) “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread.” Exodus 16:12b

c) “And you shall know that I am the LORD your God.” Exodus 16:12c

FULFILMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE

13 So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp.
14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.
15 So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.
And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.
16 This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’ ”

Exodus 16:13-16

1. The Provision God had promised

a) Quails were given

b) Manna was provided

2. Instructions

a) To gather according to one’s needs

b) There was sufficient for all

CHALLENGING LESSONS TO LEARN

1. About Ourselves

a) Are we prone to Complaining?

b) Are we able to trust in the Lord?

2. About God’s Promises

a) Are we prone to Doubt

b) Are we able to believe?