May 2009 Newsletter


“HE is the Same”

By: Craig Rippy


Exodus chapters one through twenty are faith boosters. One story really has impressed upon me the difficulty of faith and also the necessity of faith.

Exodus 16 tells the story about the Israelites grumbling against Moses and Aaron, because they hadn’t the food they wanted. “You have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death,” the Israelites complained.

The Lord heard the grumbling and told Moses he would rain down bread from heaven and cause a great number of quail to enter the camp for meat. God was going to test Israel with the bread of Angels (Psalm 78:25). The Israelites named the bread manna, interpreted, “What is it?” Maybe they should have called it “Faith Booster.”

God told Moses to explain to the Israelites that each morning manna would be on the ground for harvest. Five days a week each family could take two quarts per person in their family. They could boil it or bake it, and it would be nourishment for them. On Friday they could take twice the amount and save half for the Sabbath Day so no one would work to harvest manna on the Sabbath. God warned the Israelites that any manna stored on the other days would spoil.

Some of the Israelites decided to store away some of the manna during the week for the next day. Those who stored it away found the next day that it was spoiled, smelly, and filled with maggots. God had told them that each days supply would be sufficient and not to leave any for the next day or it would do as it did. The test was revealing of the Israelites’ faith.

Some of the Israelites failed to gather enough for the seventh day as they were instructed. Instead they went out to find it that Saturday morning and were surprised they couldn’t. Yet, those who obeyed God had manna for the day.

During a family devotion a couple of weeks ago one of my children asked if it was more difficult for those who had faithlessly stored manna and found it spoiled the next day to save it for the Sabbath? I think it would have been. They saw the results of keeping manna overnight. They may have chosen not to store it again, not trusting that God could preserve it for the Sabbath Day.

These same Israelites had witnessed all the plagues against Pharaoh and the Egyptians. By the time of the last plague they had placed faith in God and Moses, obeying the order to kill a lamb, smear the blood above and on the sides of their home doorways, and roast and eat the meat. The Passover was observed and the Israelites were released from bondage, followed Moses to the Red Sea, saw the waters part, and the Egyptian army destroyed.

Just a few days prior to receiving manna they had grumbled about water and God supplied their need miraculously. Yet, with all these proofs of God’s care, power, and desire to help these people, the Israelites grumble about food.

You would think they would have come to the spiritual leaders God had appointed, and calmly ask them to pray to God for their need, knowing God was with them and would help them. But no, they were unwilling to consider that God would or could help them. They were taking matters into their own hands.

Chapter 17 reveals that they were in need of water again. The people quarrel with Moses and Aaron as if it were their fault. Moses prays to God, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” Again, the Lord shows His power for His people and causes water to gush from a rock.

Today I have a message for the Church from Hebrews 13:5-8,

5) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6) So we may boldly say:

The LORD is my helper,

I will not fear,

What can man do to me?

7) Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

(NKJV)