Exodus 16, Luke 13

Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - Brandon Hatmaker (Exodus 16, Luke 13)

"The people grumbled, the leaders were indignant, and the thankful worshipped"

(Exodus 16)

“Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.' " – Exodus 16:9

We should check ourselves more often. We talk often about what’s going on in our lives, the sacrifices we make for others (small or big), we complain a lot, we discuss how God is leading us or seemingly not leading, and we talk a lot about how we don’t “sense” or “hear” God that often, and often our words are filled with worry. Sometimes we actually live a day like God does not see, hear us, or know what’s going on, forgetting that we are either where we are because we were listening to Him, or because we went there on our own. If we were listening and followed, we can be assured there is a plan. If we went there on our own, we can be just as assured, but we should remember that it was by our own path that we came to be where we are.

But He hears us. Verse 9 is a reminder of that. And He provides for us (in many ways), the entire Bible reminds us of that. For those of us who live in the world of Starbucks on every corner, who are we to complain or grumble? The Lord has been good to us. He provides daily for us in a world where many have nothing.

The Israelites were rescued from slavery, they were rescued from slaughter, and God led them across dry land where, moments ago, was a sea. His hand was obvious, and they grumbled.

God’s response to their grumbling was a daily provision of food. Daily. Even on the Sabbath they had enough. My response might not have been so sweet. I might have left them to fend for themselves.

I’m glad I’m not God. That probably would have changed a few things in history.

(Luke 13)

“On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. “Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath , the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath."” Luke 13:10-14

The more I study Jesus’ physical healing of people, the more I feel that it’s less about His power of healing (physically) and more about His power of loving. No one cared about this woman, especially on the Sabbath, except Jesus.

Look at her response in verse 13. She praised God. What a great example we have in Christ. When we love others, God will be glorified, He will be praised.