WEBVTT 00:00:00.599 --> 00:00:03.839 Ok, if you open with me in your Bibles 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:08.226 to Exodus 16. 00:00:08.226 --> 00:00:12.437 I'm not going to read it beforehand. 00:00:12.437 --> 00:00:17.755 We're just going to make comments 00:00:17.755 --> 00:00:19.104 as we go, 00:00:19.104 --> 00:00:26.992 and bring out points there as we go. 00:00:26.992 --> 00:00:29.601 The title of this sermons is, 00:00:29.601 --> 00:00:31.812 "Grumbling is Contagious 00:00:31.812 --> 00:00:38.573 and the Remedy For It." 00:00:38.573 --> 00:00:40.509 We've been going through Exodus 00:00:40.509 --> 00:00:44.390 back home in Manchester. 00:00:44.390 --> 00:00:47.446 And every sermon's about 00:00:47.446 --> 00:00:48.922 grumbling and murmuring now 00:00:48.922 --> 00:00:50.422 because once they leave Egypt, 00:00:50.422 --> 00:00:52.176 that's all they ever do 00:00:52.176 --> 00:00:55.905 on the way to the Promised Land. 00:00:55.905 --> 00:01:01.970 So, let's pray. 00:01:01.970 --> 00:01:04.669 Our Father, 00:01:04.669 --> 00:01:06.420 we ask that You should show us 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:07.966 wonderous things from Your law, 00:01:07.966 --> 00:01:12.707 from Your Word this morning. 00:01:12.707 --> 00:01:14.786 That this text would be real to us 00:01:14.786 --> 00:01:16.533 and helpful to us to live 00:01:16.533 --> 00:01:18.052 for Your glory. 00:01:18.052 --> 00:01:23.586 Search our hearts. 00:01:23.586 --> 00:01:24.735 Help us, we ask. 00:01:24.735 --> 00:01:26.527 In Jesus' name, 00:01:26.527 --> 00:01:31.975 Amen. 00:01:31.975 --> 00:01:37.084 Ok, so, in v. 1 then of Exodus 16, 00:01:37.084 --> 00:01:40.423 we read, "They..." that is the Israelites, 00:01:40.423 --> 00:01:44.236 of course, "...set out from Elim, 00:01:44.236 --> 00:01:47.174 and all the congregation of the people 00:01:47.174 --> 00:01:51.282 of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, 00:01:51.282 --> 00:01:55.212 which is between Elim and Sinai..." 00:01:55.212 --> 00:01:57.072 And this wilderness of Sin 00:01:57.072 --> 00:01:58.572 where they are now, 00:01:58.572 --> 00:02:00.480 it has nothing to do 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:01.887 with the English word "sin," 00:02:01.887 --> 00:02:04.737 although as we'll see in a moment, 00:02:04.737 --> 00:02:06.634 they do a lot of sinning 00:02:06.634 --> 00:02:08.198 while they're here. 00:02:08.198 --> 00:02:09.495 But it's simply called this 00:02:09.495 --> 00:02:13.102 because they're in the Sinai region. 00:02:13.102 --> 00:02:16.398 "On the fifteenth day of the second month 00:02:16.398 --> 00:02:18.140 after they had departed 00:02:18.140 --> 00:02:22.592 from the land of Egypt..." 00:02:22.592 --> 00:02:24.607 We're simply being told this 00:02:24.607 --> 00:02:26.408 because they left on the 15th day 00:02:26.408 --> 00:02:27.700 of the first month, 00:02:27.700 --> 00:02:30.964 so what we're being told in that detail 00:02:30.964 --> 00:02:34.660 is this happens now exactly one month 00:02:34.660 --> 00:02:37.393 since they left Egypt 00:02:37.393 --> 00:02:39.454 since they were delivered from the slavery 00:02:39.454 --> 00:02:41.480 and bondage there 00:02:41.480 --> 00:02:44.763 going through the Red Sea, of course. 00:02:44.763 --> 00:02:46.882 And v. 2 continues, 00:02:46.882 --> 00:02:49.876 "...the whole congregation of the people of Israel 00:02:49.876 --> 00:02:52.408 grumbled against Moses and Aaron 00:02:52.408 --> 00:02:55.412 in the wilderness." 00:02:55.412 --> 00:02:57.612 And so the wording here 00:02:57.612 --> 00:03:00.266 with the whole congregation grumbling 00:03:00.266 --> 00:03:02.089 against Moses and Aaron, 00:03:02.089 --> 00:03:04.046 it's highlighting a contrast 00:03:04.046 --> 00:03:07.880 between in the previous chapter, 00:03:07.880 --> 00:03:12.135 we saw it said the people grumbled 00:03:12.135 --> 00:03:15.416 against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 00:03:15.416 --> 00:03:18.538 That time, an angry mob of people 00:03:18.538 --> 00:03:20.464 in the congregation - 00:03:20.464 --> 00:03:23.375 in the midst, were grumbling 00:03:23.375 --> 00:03:25.303 when they went through the trial there 00:03:25.303 --> 00:03:27.503 of not having any water 00:03:27.503 --> 00:03:31.341 that the murmuring that was at Marah. 00:03:31.341 --> 00:03:32.914 Whereas this time, 00:03:32.914 --> 00:03:35.676 now it's the whole congregation - 00:03:35.676 --> 00:03:37.343 or at least the majority of them 00:03:37.343 --> 00:03:39.093 are now grumbling, murmuring 00:03:39.093 --> 00:03:41.000 against Moses and Aaron. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:42.518 So now what we have is 00:03:42.518 --> 00:03:45.339 a full-blown rebellion. 00:03:45.339 --> 00:03:47.875 And so, the first application - 00:03:47.875 --> 00:03:51.604 the first point I want you to take note of 00:03:51.604 --> 00:03:54.693 here and learn from in this passage 00:03:54.693 --> 00:03:56.828 is that grumbling and murmuring 00:03:56.828 --> 00:04:00.011 is contagious. 00:04:00.011 --> 00:04:01.605 Grumbling and murmuring 00:04:01.605 --> 00:04:03.511 is like a disease 00:04:03.511 --> 00:04:06.109 that if you're around it long enough, 00:04:06.109 --> 00:04:09.543 then you're going to catch it. 00:04:09.543 --> 00:04:13.447 You know, people think of this murmuring 00:04:13.447 --> 00:04:16.691 and grumbling and being divisive there 00:04:16.691 --> 00:04:18.805 as just being a little thing, 00:04:18.805 --> 00:04:20.647 but in Proverbs 6 it's 00:04:20.647 --> 00:04:23.593 one of the six things the Lord hates; 00:04:23.593 --> 00:04:26.659 the seven that are an abomination to Him - 00:04:26.659 --> 00:04:30.545 he who sows discord among the brethren. 00:04:30.545 --> 00:04:34.015 You see, when you murmur and grumble 00:04:34.015 --> 00:04:36.278 in a bad way like these are doing here, 00:04:36.278 --> 00:04:38.343 what happens is you sow discord - 00:04:38.343 --> 00:04:42.216 you plant a seed in others. 00:04:42.216 --> 00:04:44.315 And so when you're around 00:04:44.315 --> 00:04:46.107 whiners and murmurers long enough 00:04:46.107 --> 00:04:49.432 they will plant the seed in us. 00:04:49.432 --> 00:04:54.494 And another point worth noting here 00:04:54.494 --> 00:04:58.775 is that the last time they were grumbling 00:04:58.775 --> 00:05:00.987 when it was just less of them, 00:05:00.987 --> 00:05:02.620 they faced a much bigger trial 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:05.067 of having no water. 00:05:05.067 --> 00:05:07.322 And it was just a large mob 00:05:07.322 --> 00:05:10.947 of murmurers among the congregation 00:05:10.947 --> 00:05:18.386 in this faithless state of rebellion. 00:05:18.386 --> 00:05:20.173 And last time, 00:05:20.173 --> 00:05:21.695 the rebellious grumblers - 00:05:21.695 --> 00:05:23.700 they were shown to be wrong 00:05:23.700 --> 00:05:24.909 in what happened there 00:05:24.909 --> 00:05:27.726 in the events of Marah. 00:05:27.726 --> 00:05:30.434 But when the next trial comes along, 00:05:30.434 --> 00:05:32.361 even though as we'll see in a moment, 00:05:32.361 --> 00:05:33.731 this is nothing compared to 00:05:33.731 --> 00:05:35.809 the previous trial they've had. 00:05:35.809 --> 00:05:37.403 You see, the seed of discord 00:05:37.403 --> 00:05:40.115 has already been planted in them. 00:05:40.115 --> 00:05:42.260 And so now the whole congregation 00:05:42.260 --> 00:05:46.542 are murmuring against Moses and Aaron. 00:05:46.542 --> 00:05:48.211 Yet, the people here, no doubt, 00:05:48.211 --> 00:05:51.126 being led by a few chief grumblers 00:05:51.126 --> 00:05:53.966 amongst them, stirring things up, 00:05:53.966 --> 00:05:56.628 in there, 00:05:56.628 --> 00:05:58.744 starting to complain. 00:05:58.744 --> 00:05:59.998 Moses and Aaron - 00:05:59.998 --> 00:06:01.448 and this is what you get; 00:06:01.448 --> 00:06:02.703 you get a theme of this 00:06:02.703 --> 00:06:04.801 as they're on the way to the Promised Land. 00:06:04.801 --> 00:06:05.973 Moses and Aaron, 00:06:05.973 --> 00:06:07.500 if you were really leading us 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:09.179 in the correct way, 00:06:09.179 --> 00:06:10.904 before the Lord, 00:06:10.904 --> 00:06:14.414 then we wouldn't be facing another trial. 00:06:14.414 --> 00:06:16.869 I mean, this is just too many times now, 00:06:16.869 --> 00:06:19.915 Moses and Aaron. 00:06:19.915 --> 00:06:21.422 They're saying, look, Moses, 00:06:21.422 --> 00:06:23.339 I'm the expert on how to do things 00:06:23.339 --> 00:06:24.673 around here. 00:06:24.673 --> 00:06:26.285 And if you don't change the way 00:06:26.285 --> 00:06:28.018 you're doing things to what I say, 00:06:28.018 --> 00:06:29.960 then we're going to face another trial. 00:06:29.960 --> 00:06:30.932 We've had no water. 00:06:30.932 --> 00:06:33.458 And then, we've had the lack of food 00:06:33.458 --> 00:06:34.849 and the different trials. 00:06:34.849 --> 00:06:37.860 There's one trial after another. 00:06:37.860 --> 00:06:39.372 But the thing is, 00:06:39.372 --> 00:06:41.630 Moses and Aaron are taking them the way 00:06:41.630 --> 00:06:44.156 that God has told them. 00:06:44.156 --> 00:06:47.412 And trials are guaranteed 00:06:47.412 --> 00:06:48.807 on the Christian's journey 00:06:48.807 --> 00:06:52.742 through the wilderness of this life. 00:06:52.742 --> 00:06:56.968 You see, the grumbling will only continue 00:06:56.968 --> 00:06:59.226 unless these people's hearts are changed 00:06:59.226 --> 00:07:00.989 and they learn from this, 00:07:00.989 --> 00:07:04.013 which is what I want us to do today. 00:07:04.013 --> 00:07:06.855 You know, recently, it wasn't too long ago 00:07:06.855 --> 00:07:07.668 was it? 00:07:07.668 --> 00:07:10.193 They had the Zika virus in Brazil. 00:07:10.193 --> 00:07:12.784 And history is filled, isn't it, 00:07:12.784 --> 00:07:15.706 with highly contagious diseases 00:07:15.706 --> 00:07:17.106 like the bubonic plague, 00:07:17.106 --> 00:07:19.048 the Black Death there. 00:07:19.048 --> 00:07:22.451 Well, you see, when you put your arms around 00:07:22.451 --> 00:07:25.193 and you give air to constant grumbling 00:07:25.193 --> 00:07:27.035 and the hypercritical spirit - 00:07:27.035 --> 00:07:29.041 always hypercritical of everything - 00:07:29.041 --> 00:07:30.639 you know the person who's always 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:32.290 tearing everything down, 00:07:32.290 --> 00:07:34.418 it's like putting your arm around someone 00:07:34.418 --> 00:07:36.830 with the bubonic plague. 00:07:36.830 --> 00:07:38.492 Or putting your arm around someone 00:07:38.492 --> 00:07:39.818 with the Zika virus there 00:07:39.818 --> 00:07:41.706 and saying let's go for a walk together 00:07:41.706 --> 00:07:45.632 among these mosquitos. 00:07:45.632 --> 00:07:47.646 So, number one, the point here 00:07:47.646 --> 00:07:49.036 in this enlarging 00:07:49.036 --> 00:07:50.764 is grumbling - 00:07:50.764 --> 00:07:54.640 this hypercritical spirit is contagious. 00:07:54.640 --> 00:07:56.851 You know, in these days we live in, 00:07:56.851 --> 00:07:59.548 there's all these Internet ministries - 00:07:59.548 --> 00:08:01.443 not a good one like you have here, 00:08:01.443 --> 00:08:03.673 but there are these really bad ones 00:08:03.673 --> 00:08:04.760 out there aren't they, 00:08:04.760 --> 00:08:06.743 with these hypercritical teachers? 00:08:06.743 --> 00:08:08.113 It's normally some guy 00:08:08.113 --> 00:08:10.615 and he's sat in his bedroom there, 00:08:10.615 --> 00:08:11.816 giving Bible studies. 00:08:11.816 --> 00:08:13.051 They don't have a church 00:08:13.051 --> 00:08:15.907 because they've kind of already upset 00:08:15.907 --> 00:08:19.510 every single person in the world. 00:08:19.510 --> 00:08:22.294 And it's so-called discernment ministries. 00:08:22.294 --> 00:08:25.555 But what is the fruit of these things? 00:08:25.555 --> 00:08:28.071 The fruit of their disciples who watch them 00:08:28.071 --> 00:08:30.962 is they also become professional grumblers 00:08:30.962 --> 00:08:34.170 and professionals with a hypercritical spirit also. 00:08:34.170 --> 00:08:36.712 So number one, the first warning 00:08:36.712 --> 00:08:38.406 about grumbling here is it's 00:08:38.406 --> 00:08:41.116 a highly contagious disease. 00:08:41.116 --> 00:08:41.995 So beware. 00:08:41.995 --> 00:08:44.902 It may go down like a tasty trifle 00:08:44.902 --> 00:08:46.366 as the Proverbs says, 00:08:46.366 --> 00:08:49.058 but don't trifle with it. 00:08:49.058 --> 00:08:51.035 Number two though, 00:08:51.035 --> 00:08:53.358 this really comes out in this text. 00:08:53.358 --> 00:08:55.803 Grumbling and a murmuring spirit 00:08:55.803 --> 00:08:58.527 distorts the past. 00:08:58.527 --> 00:09:01.342 We can see this in v. 3 here, can't we? 00:09:01.342 --> 00:09:04.843 "And the people of Israel said to them, 00:09:04.843 --> 00:09:06.708 (to Moses and Aaron) 00:09:06.708 --> 00:09:08.454 'Would that we had died 00:09:08.454 --> 00:09:09.914 by the hand of the Lord 00:09:09.914 --> 00:09:11.290 in the land of Egypt 00:09:11.290 --> 00:09:13.432 when we sat by the meat pots 00:09:13.432 --> 00:09:17.926 and ate bread to the full.'" 00:09:17.926 --> 00:09:20.645 Notice here, it's been one month. 00:09:20.645 --> 00:09:21.907 One month. That's all, 00:09:21.907 --> 00:09:25.592 since they left Egypt. 00:09:25.592 --> 00:09:27.041 And in their grumbling spirit, 00:09:27.041 --> 00:09:28.327 they've already forgotten 00:09:28.327 --> 00:09:30.588 about their heavy labor there 00:09:30.588 --> 00:09:32.337 where they had to make the bricks 00:09:32.337 --> 00:09:34.290 and they even had to gather 00:09:34.290 --> 00:09:36.072 their own straw 00:09:36.072 --> 00:09:37.617 to make the bricks with. 00:09:37.617 --> 00:09:39.241 They've forgotten about the whips 00:09:39.241 --> 00:09:40.316 upon their backs 00:09:40.316 --> 00:09:42.453 and the chains in Egypt. 00:09:42.453 --> 00:09:44.449 Just after a month. 00:09:44.449 --> 00:09:46.368 And now they're saying here, 00:09:46.368 --> 00:09:47.744 "... in the land of Egypt 00:09:47.744 --> 00:09:49.728 when we sat by the meat pots 00:09:49.728 --> 00:09:52.258 and ate bread to the full." 00:09:52.258 --> 00:09:55.502 You see, in their distorted reality 00:09:55.502 --> 00:09:57.078 they now hold of the past - 00:09:57.078 --> 00:09:59.124 which grumbling paints - 00:09:59.124 --> 00:10:00.820 they now have this false picture 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:02.742 in their mind of when they're in Egypt. 00:10:02.742 --> 00:10:04.414 You know, as if they were sat down 00:10:04.414 --> 00:10:06.369 in comfort each day. 00:10:06.369 --> 00:10:09.037 Like, darling, would you pass me 00:10:09.037 --> 00:10:14.173 another burger from the barby, please? 00:10:14.173 --> 00:10:19.213 Would you like some chicken with that? 00:10:19.213 --> 00:10:20.792 And they say here, 00:10:20.792 --> 00:10:22.553 "would that we had died 00:10:22.553 --> 00:10:23.956 by the hand of the Lord 00:10:23.956 --> 00:10:26.340 in the land of Egypt." 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:27.263 In other words, 00:10:27.263 --> 00:10:28.727 we could have continued 00:10:28.727 --> 00:10:30.995 a happy and a comfortable life 00:10:30.995 --> 00:10:32.546 until we died of old age, 00:10:32.546 --> 00:10:36.172 of natural causes there. 00:10:36.172 --> 00:10:39.262 But what really happened? 00:10:39.262 --> 00:10:41.803 You see how distorted the picture 00:10:41.803 --> 00:10:43.954 of the past that grumbling paints. 00:10:43.954 --> 00:10:45.300 I mean, what really happened 00:10:45.300 --> 00:10:47.044 when they were back in Egypt? 00:10:47.044 --> 00:10:49.073 We get told earlier 00:10:49.073 --> 00:10:57.962 that what happened was the people groaned. 00:10:57.962 --> 00:11:00.884 They groaned because of their slavery there, 00:11:00.884 --> 00:11:03.125 and they cried out for help. 00:11:03.125 --> 00:11:04.461 And their cry for rescue 00:11:04.461 --> 00:11:06.714 came up to the Lord. 00:11:06.714 --> 00:11:09.442 So, as well as being contagious, 00:11:09.442 --> 00:11:12.333 the second danger of 00:11:12.333 --> 00:11:15.723 a grumbling, hypercritical spirit here 00:11:15.723 --> 00:11:17.314 we learn in this passage is 00:11:17.314 --> 00:11:19.713 grumbling and murmuring distorts 00:11:19.713 --> 00:11:21.008 the past. 00:11:21.008 --> 00:11:22.950 It has to to carry on. 00:11:22.950 --> 00:11:24.719 Kevin DeYoung said on this - 00:11:24.719 --> 00:11:26.737 I think this is a good quote - 00:11:26.737 --> 00:11:27.637 he said, 00:11:27.637 --> 00:11:30.347 "We tend to remember a golden age 00:11:30.347 --> 00:11:32.904 that didn't really exist. 00:11:32.904 --> 00:11:36.085 The good old days weren't always so good. 00:11:36.085 --> 00:11:38.403 Listen, if you tend to complain 00:11:38.403 --> 00:11:40.065 about everything now, 00:11:40.065 --> 00:11:41.784 chances are that you complained 00:11:41.784 --> 00:11:43.909 about everything back then 00:11:43.909 --> 00:11:46.741 whenever it was." 00:11:46.741 --> 00:11:49.150 You see, for grumbling and murmuring 00:11:49.150 --> 00:11:50.974 to continue, it relies upon 00:11:50.974 --> 00:11:54.917 a distortion of past reality. 00:11:54.917 --> 00:11:56.293 But number three, 00:11:56.293 --> 00:11:58.225 another thing we learn about this 00:11:58.225 --> 00:11:59.289 from this passage is 00:11:59.289 --> 00:12:01.881 grumbling and murmuring exaggerates 00:12:01.881 --> 00:12:05.523 the present and the future woes. 00:12:05.523 --> 00:12:07.805 We see this in the next part of v. 3 00:12:07.805 --> 00:12:11.818 here when they accuse Moses and Aaron. 00:12:11.818 --> 00:12:13.852 "For you have brought us out 00:12:13.852 --> 00:12:16.536 into the wilderness to kill 00:12:16.536 --> 00:12:20.701 this whole assembly with hunger." 00:12:20.701 --> 00:12:23.304 Ahhh, they say. 00:12:23.304 --> 00:12:25.373 You've brought us all to kill us now. 00:12:25.373 --> 00:12:29.793 We're all going to die. 00:12:29.793 --> 00:12:32.495 Brethren, you know, aside from the fact 00:12:32.495 --> 00:12:34.404 they have just seen 00:12:34.404 --> 00:12:36.478 the Lord's provision in providing them 00:12:36.478 --> 00:12:37.804 the water. 00:12:37.804 --> 00:12:39.266 In fact, aside from the fact 00:12:39.266 --> 00:12:40.593 that they've just seen 00:12:40.593 --> 00:12:43.630 the Lord's faithfulness many, many times. 00:12:43.630 --> 00:12:46.039 And so they have no reason to panic 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:49.200 in this here. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:51.508 But, I want you to consider 00:12:51.508 --> 00:12:55.172 how exaggerated this trial is here. 00:12:55.172 --> 00:12:57.775 Because when they left Egypt, 00:12:57.775 --> 00:13:00.622 did they not leave with all their livestock? 00:13:00.622 --> 00:13:02.945 Their flocks and their animals there. 00:13:02.945 --> 00:13:05.017 Could they not get some milk and cheese 00:13:05.017 --> 00:13:07.219 from their cows? 00:13:07.219 --> 00:13:09.224 If they're that desperate for meat, 00:13:09.224 --> 00:13:11.650 could they not slaughter an animal 00:13:11.650 --> 00:13:14.222 and roast it? 00:13:14.222 --> 00:13:16.296 You see, the point is that grumblers 00:13:16.296 --> 00:13:19.979 exaggerate their misery. 00:13:19.979 --> 00:13:22.599 And it's very easy to see, isn't it? 00:13:22.599 --> 00:13:24.124 I mean, you just think, 00:13:24.124 --> 00:13:26.738 in our own lives, 00:13:26.738 --> 00:13:29.003 when we've fallen into this sinful state 00:13:29.003 --> 00:13:31.887 of grumbling or murmuring, 00:13:31.887 --> 00:13:33.125 when you think back now, 00:13:33.125 --> 00:13:36.428 was it as bad as you made out back then? 00:13:36.428 --> 00:13:39.575 Was all the panic really worth it? 00:13:39.575 --> 00:13:41.786 And the fourth thing we can learn 00:13:41.786 --> 00:13:43.360 about this though - 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:47.389 this state of murmuring from this passage, 00:13:47.389 --> 00:13:52.855 is that it's really murmuring against God. 00:13:52.855 --> 00:13:54.766 We see this in v. 7 when Moses 00:13:54.766 --> 00:13:58.669 replies to them after God spoke to him: 00:13:58.669 --> 00:14:00.913 "And in the morning, you shall see 00:14:00.913 --> 00:14:02.241 the glory of the Lord 00:14:02.241 --> 00:14:05.375 because He has heard your grumbling 00:14:05.375 --> 00:14:08.635 against the Lord." 00:14:08.635 --> 00:14:09.846 You see, these people, 00:14:09.846 --> 00:14:11.333 they were kidding themselves 00:14:11.333 --> 00:14:13.093 that their constant grumbling 00:14:13.093 --> 00:14:15.768 and their whining was against Moses and Aaron 00:14:15.768 --> 00:14:18.117 and their leadership there. 00:14:18.117 --> 00:14:19.771 But ultimately, 00:14:19.771 --> 00:14:21.879 their murmuring was against God. 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.739 It is God Who was the One 00:14:23.739 --> 00:14:26.336 they had the problem with. 00:14:26.336 --> 00:14:29.028 As Moses continues to say there in v. 7, 00:14:29.028 --> 00:14:31.504 "...for what are we that you grumble 00:14:31.504 --> 00:14:33.061 against us?" 00:14:33.061 --> 00:14:34.790 For what are we that you grumble 00:14:34.790 --> 00:14:36.268 against us? Moses says. 00:14:36.268 --> 00:14:37.573 In other words, Moses tells 00:14:37.573 --> 00:14:39.147 these people here, 00:14:39.147 --> 00:14:41.090 don't shoot the messenger. 00:14:41.090 --> 00:14:42.744 I'm only telling you what 00:14:42.744 --> 00:14:44.509 the Word of the Lord has said - 00:14:44.509 --> 00:14:45.959 what the Bible says. 00:14:45.959 --> 00:14:47.581 If you've got a problem with this, 00:14:47.581 --> 00:14:49.597 then your problem's not with me, 00:14:49.597 --> 00:14:51.499 it's with God. 00:14:51.499 --> 00:14:52.973 And then in v. 8, 00:14:52.973 --> 00:14:54.791 Moses said, "the Lord gives you 00:14:54.791 --> 00:14:56.837 in the evening meat to eat 00:14:56.837 --> 00:14:59.617 and in the morning, bread to the full 00:14:59.617 --> 00:15:01.377 because the Lord has heard 00:15:01.377 --> 00:15:05.631 your grumbling that you grumble against Him. 00:15:05.631 --> 00:15:06.795 What are we? 00:15:06.795 --> 00:15:08.487 Your grumbling is not against us, 00:15:08.487 --> 00:15:11.827 but against the Lord." 00:15:11.827 --> 00:15:13.581 You see in grumbling against Moses, 00:15:13.581 --> 00:15:14.524 their pastor here - 00:15:14.524 --> 00:15:16.529 when he's only trying to do right 00:15:16.529 --> 00:15:18.218 before the Lord. 00:15:18.218 --> 00:15:19.999 They're grumbling against the Lord. 00:15:19.999 --> 00:15:22.102 He's just the messenger leading 00:15:22.102 --> 00:15:25.388 as the Lord has told him to do. 00:15:25.388 --> 00:15:31.703 You see, 00:15:31.703 --> 00:15:34.315 when these people are murmuring here, 00:15:34.315 --> 00:15:35.852 and saying Moses and Aaron - 00:15:35.852 --> 00:15:37.418 they don't really care about us 00:15:37.418 --> 00:15:39.110 or the leadership is harsh, 00:15:39.110 --> 00:15:40.656 or whatever they're saying - 00:15:40.656 --> 00:15:43.485 many different things you can put in here. 00:15:43.485 --> 00:15:44.836 But what they really believe 00:15:44.836 --> 00:15:46.440 is God is harsh. 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:48.748 Or God is guilty of whatever. 00:15:48.748 --> 00:15:50.622 And He's the One Who doesn't care, 00:15:50.622 --> 00:15:53.765 because it's His Word Moses and Aaron 00:15:53.765 --> 00:15:56.394 are following here, you see. 00:15:56.394 --> 00:15:59.365 So, those are the dangers then 00:15:59.365 --> 00:16:03.304 of a grumbling spirit in this passage. 00:16:03.304 --> 00:16:04.981 It's contagious. 00:16:04.981 --> 00:16:06.209 It distorts the past. 00:16:06.209 --> 00:16:08.119 It exaggerates the future woes. 00:16:08.119 --> 00:16:11.636 And it has to depend on those things. 00:16:11.636 --> 00:16:13.458 But now for the remedy, 00:16:13.458 --> 00:16:16.636 also in this passage. 00:16:16.636 --> 00:16:18.195 If you want to sum it up though, 00:16:18.195 --> 00:16:19.254 it's basically this. 00:16:19.254 --> 00:16:20.848 This is the remedy for grumbling 00:16:20.848 --> 00:16:21.714 and murmuring. 00:16:21.714 --> 00:16:24.182 Repent and trust the Lord. 00:16:24.182 --> 00:16:26.175 You know, when you go to see a doctor, 00:16:26.175 --> 00:16:28.224 he or she will normally 00:16:28.224 --> 00:16:30.320 write out for you a prescription 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:32.196 that tells you what you need to do 00:16:32.196 --> 00:16:33.332 in order to get better. 00:16:33.332 --> 00:16:36.356 You need to take this "x" number of times 00:16:36.356 --> 00:16:37.520 a day and so forth. 00:16:37.520 --> 00:16:39.587 Refrain from doing this. 00:16:39.587 --> 00:16:41.494 You see, this is God's prescription 00:16:41.494 --> 00:16:43.841 for the disease of a murmuring 00:16:43.841 --> 00:16:46.232 or hypercritical spirit here. 00:16:46.232 --> 00:16:48.703 Repent and trust the Lord. 00:16:48.703 --> 00:16:50.935 From v. 4, it says, 00:16:50.935 --> 00:16:52.543 "Then the Lord said to Moses, 00:16:52.543 --> 00:16:54.727 'Behold, I am about to rain 00:16:54.727 --> 00:16:57.047 bread from heaven for you, 00:16:57.047 --> 00:16:58.548 and the people shall go out 00:16:58.548 --> 00:17:02.589 and gather a day's portion every day 00:17:02.589 --> 00:17:04.347 that I may test them 00:17:04.347 --> 00:17:07.358 whether they walk in My law or not. 00:17:07.358 --> 00:17:08.860 On the sixth day, 00:17:08.860 --> 00:17:11.279 when they prepare what they bring in, 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:13.814 it will be twice as much as they gather daily.' 00:17:13.814 --> 00:17:15.483 So Moses and Aaron said 00:17:15.483 --> 00:17:17.000 to all the people of Israel, 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:19.786 'At evening, you shall know 00:17:19.786 --> 00:17:22.015 that it was the Lord Who brought you out 00:17:22.015 --> 00:17:24.155 of the land of Egypt.'" 00:17:24.155 --> 00:17:26.216 I want you to notice that phrase there 00:17:26.216 --> 00:17:29.573 in God providing the provision for them. 00:17:29.573 --> 00:17:31.894 He says so that you shall know 00:17:31.894 --> 00:17:33.254 Who He is. 00:17:33.254 --> 00:17:35.379 You shall know Who is the Lord. 00:17:35.379 --> 00:17:38.889 You see, that's the remedy. 00:17:38.889 --> 00:17:40.787 We know Who the Lord is. 00:17:40.787 --> 00:17:42.366 You see, when someone falls into 00:17:42.366 --> 00:17:44.980 a state of murmuring and grumbling like this, 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.642 they've either forgotten 00:17:46.642 --> 00:17:48.535 or they never knew in the first place 00:17:48.535 --> 00:17:51.640 Who God is. 00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:54.634 And then in v. 9-12, we read, 00:17:54.634 --> 00:17:56.556 "Moses said to Aaron, 00:17:56.556 --> 00:17:58.148 'say to the whole congregation, 00:17:58.148 --> 00:17:59.713 the people of Israel, 00:17:59.713 --> 00:18:02.288 'Come near before the Lord, 00:18:02.288 --> 00:18:05.224 for He has heard your grumbling,' 00:18:05.224 --> 00:18:07.167 and as soon as Aaron spoke 00:18:07.167 --> 00:18:08.618 to the whole congregation 00:18:08.618 --> 00:18:09.861 of the people of Israel, 00:18:09.861 --> 00:18:11.465 they looked toward the wilderness 00:18:11.465 --> 00:18:13.887 and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared 00:18:13.887 --> 00:18:14.999 in the cloud, 00:18:14.999 --> 00:18:16.502 and the Lord said to Moses, 00:18:16.502 --> 00:18:18.731 'I have heard the grumbling of the people 00:18:18.731 --> 00:18:20.237 of Israel. Say to them 00:18:20.237 --> 00:18:22.047 at twilight, you shall eat meat. 00:18:22.047 --> 00:18:23.467 And in the morning, you shall 00:18:23.467 --> 00:18:24.861 be filled with bread. 00:18:24.861 --> 00:18:30.783 Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.'" 00:18:30.783 --> 00:18:35.251 You see, God provides their need here 00:18:35.251 --> 00:18:38.295 in order that you shall know Who God is. 00:18:38.295 --> 00:18:41.681 You shall know what God is like. 00:18:41.681 --> 00:18:45.665 And so, the first thing God gives them 00:18:45.665 --> 00:18:50.271 in this passage is a remedy, if you like. 00:18:50.271 --> 00:18:52.688 In the remedy, to trust Him, 00:18:52.688 --> 00:18:56.803 the Lord teaches them about His character. 00:18:56.803 --> 00:18:59.130 In order that they my trust the Lord, 00:18:59.130 --> 00:19:01.273 He teaches them about His character here - 00:19:01.273 --> 00:19:02.299 what He's like. 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:04.568 And the first thing He teaches them 00:19:04.568 --> 00:19:07.388 in providing is His patience, 00:19:07.388 --> 00:19:10.241 isn't it, brethren? 00:19:10.241 --> 00:19:14.162 I mean, notice the expected response 00:19:14.162 --> 00:19:17.623 from the Lord here to their grumbling. 00:19:17.623 --> 00:19:20.399 After all, you see them one time 00:19:20.399 --> 00:19:22.554 after another just shove 00:19:22.554 --> 00:19:27.205 His mercy in the Lord's face, so to speak, 00:19:27.205 --> 00:19:29.072 and despise it and carry on grumbling 00:19:29.072 --> 00:19:31.381 one time after another. 00:19:31.381 --> 00:19:34.420 The kind of natural response you'd expect 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:36.581 is the Lord to rain down fire from heaven 00:19:36.581 --> 00:19:38.373 upon these people. 00:19:38.373 --> 00:19:41.094 Saying look, I've had enough of you this time. 00:19:41.094 --> 00:19:42.742 But here we see, the first thing 00:19:42.742 --> 00:19:45.818 God teaches them is His patience. 00:19:45.818 --> 00:19:48.378 That He is long suffering towards them. 00:19:48.378 --> 00:19:53.809 That He is slow to anger. 00:19:53.809 --> 00:19:56.164 When you realize these things about the Lord, 00:19:56.164 --> 00:19:58.531 it's going to help you to trust Him, isn't it? 00:19:58.531 --> 00:19:59.868 But the second thing 00:19:59.868 --> 00:20:02.428 that God teaches them here about Himself 00:20:02.428 --> 00:20:04.908 in a remedy, if you like, to grumbling 00:20:04.908 --> 00:20:06.820 so they can learn to trust Him 00:20:06.820 --> 00:20:09.039 is that He cares for them 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:12.407 and He provides for their needs. 00:20:12.407 --> 00:20:16.739 You see, the grumbling and murmuring spirit 00:20:16.739 --> 00:20:20.099 thinks God doesn't care enough for them 00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:21.678 and won't provide. 00:20:21.678 --> 00:20:24.088 So they think they have to be anxious 00:20:24.088 --> 00:20:25.779 about the future, 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:29.234 exaggerating present woes 00:20:29.234 --> 00:20:31.779 of what might be. 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:34.037 From v. 13, look at 00:20:34.037 --> 00:20:36.124 the Lord's care and provision here. 00:20:36.124 --> 00:20:37.918 It says, "In the evening, 00:20:37.918 --> 00:20:40.668 quail came upon and covered the camp. 00:20:40.668 --> 00:20:43.924 And in the morning, dew lay around the camp." 00:20:43.924 --> 00:20:46.285 The Lord provided them meat to eat 00:20:46.285 --> 00:20:47.453 there in the quail. 00:20:47.453 --> 00:20:50.480 V. 14, "And when the dew had gone up, 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:52.814 there was on the face of the wilderness 00:20:52.814 --> 00:20:54.970 a fine flake-like thing, 00:20:54.970 --> 00:20:57.410 fine as frost on the ground. 00:20:57.410 --> 00:20:59.874 When the people of Israel saw it, 00:20:59.874 --> 00:21:01.258 they said to one another, 00:21:01.258 --> 00:21:02.734 'what is it?' 00:21:02.734 --> 00:21:05.593 They did not know what it was. 00:21:05.593 --> 00:21:07.514 And Moses said to them, 00:21:07.514 --> 00:21:09.362 'It is the bread that the Lord 00:21:09.362 --> 00:21:11.972 has given you to eat.'" 00:21:11.972 --> 00:21:14.479 So the Lord - He gives them this manna, 00:21:14.479 --> 00:21:16.540 this bread 00:21:16.540 --> 00:21:19.901 which miraculously appears on the ground. 00:21:19.901 --> 00:21:23.285 In the original, it's a play on words here. 00:21:23.285 --> 00:21:26.097 They named this bread that God 00:21:26.097 --> 00:21:29.097 miraculously provided: manna. 00:21:29.097 --> 00:21:33.589 The word manna means "what is it?" 00:21:33.589 --> 00:21:35.515 And so they named this bread "manna" 00:21:35.515 --> 00:21:36.982 because when they first saw it 00:21:36.982 --> 00:21:37.778 on the ground, 00:21:37.778 --> 00:21:40.307 they said, "what is it?" 00:21:40.307 --> 00:21:43.937 And so they called it, "what is it?" 00:21:43.937 --> 00:21:46.574 You can imagine their conversations 00:21:46.574 --> 00:21:50.071 in the houses, the tents, can't you? 00:21:50.071 --> 00:21:53.965 You know, mom, what are we having for tea tonight? 00:21:53.965 --> 00:21:55.229 Well, you don't say tea, 00:21:55.229 --> 00:21:59.520 is it supper down here? Or dinner? 00:21:59.520 --> 00:22:00.640 What are we having? 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:02.708 We're having "what is it?" 00:22:02.708 --> 00:22:04.191 No, what is it? 00:22:04.191 --> 00:22:05.888 Yeah, that's what I'm asking you. 00:22:05.888 --> 00:22:09.572 What is it? 00:22:09.572 --> 00:22:11.429 But look here, look at 00:22:11.429 --> 00:22:13.099 the Lord's provision and care. 00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:17.336 From v. 16, it continues, 00:22:17.336 --> 00:22:19.450 Then as the Lord commanded them, 00:22:19.450 --> 00:22:22.104 "Gather of it each one of you 00:22:22.104 --> 00:22:24.249 as much as he can eat. 00:22:24.249 --> 00:22:26.104 You shall take an omer..." 00:22:26.104 --> 00:22:28.010 There's a bit of debate about the size, 00:22:28.010 --> 00:22:30.354 but I believe it's about two liters. 00:22:30.354 --> 00:22:33.104 "...according to the number of persons 00:22:33.104 --> 00:22:38.565 that each of you have in his tent." 00:22:38.565 --> 00:22:40.911 So, they're all living in tents 00:22:40.911 --> 00:22:42.336 as I said. 00:22:42.336 --> 00:22:44.571 When I preached on this at home, 00:22:44.571 --> 00:22:46.498 we have a church camping holiday, 00:22:46.498 --> 00:22:48.086 and there was a lot of protest. 00:22:48.086 --> 00:22:49.764 We don't want a camping holiday. 00:22:49.764 --> 00:22:50.890 We don't like camping. 00:22:50.890 --> 00:22:52.954 So I said, look, if you don't like camping, 00:22:52.954 --> 00:22:56.374 you're not biblical. 00:22:56.374 --> 00:22:58.046 But v. 17 though, 00:22:58.046 --> 00:23:00.985 "And the people of Israel did so. 00:23:00.985 --> 00:23:04.142 They gathered, some more, some less. 00:23:04.142 --> 00:23:05.921 But when they measured it 00:23:05.921 --> 00:23:07.179 with an omer, 00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:09.835 whoever gathered much had nothing left over, 00:23:09.835 --> 00:23:12.476 and whoever gathered little had no lack. 00:23:12.476 --> 00:23:16.489 Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. 00:23:16.489 --> 00:23:18.024 And Moses said to them, 00:23:18.024 --> 00:23:21.805 'let no one leave any over until the morning,' 00:23:21.805 --> 00:23:24.064 but they did not listen to Moses. 00:23:24.064 --> 00:23:26.767 Some left part of it till the morning, 00:23:26.767 --> 00:23:28.724 and it bred worms and stank, 00:23:28.724 --> 00:23:30.633 and Moses was angry with them. 00:23:30.633 --> 00:23:32.704 Morning by morning they gathered it, 00:23:32.704 --> 00:23:35.621 each as much as he could eat, 00:23:35.621 --> 00:23:38.813 but when the sun grew hot, it melted." 00:23:38.813 --> 00:23:43.005 So they had to gather this manna early 00:23:43.005 --> 00:23:45.218 before the sunrise or it stank. 00:23:45.218 --> 00:23:46.808 And God is teaching there - 00:23:46.808 --> 00:23:48.319 as Calvin said - 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.934 number one, a work ethic. 00:23:49.934 --> 00:23:51.631 If they'd been left all day 00:23:51.631 --> 00:23:53.459 to gather it, they could have been 00:23:53.459 --> 00:23:54.927 casual about it. 00:23:54.927 --> 00:23:57.030 But also, I think much more than that, 00:23:57.030 --> 00:23:58.836 in that it stank there 00:23:58.836 --> 00:24:00.321 for those who did not listen 00:24:00.321 --> 00:24:03.348 to the command of God. 00:24:03.348 --> 00:24:05.607 The teaching there is if you're gathering 00:24:05.607 --> 00:24:07.024 the manna of God's Word, 00:24:07.024 --> 00:24:08.710 but not doing it, 00:24:08.710 --> 00:24:10.719 then you stink. 00:24:10.719 --> 00:24:16.172 If we're hearing or reading 00:24:16.172 --> 00:24:17.176 the Word of God, 00:24:17.176 --> 00:24:18.052 but not doing it, 00:24:18.052 --> 00:24:19.660 or learning it and not doing it, 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:21.442 then that's the testimony, isn't it, 00:24:21.442 --> 00:24:22.598 it leaves before others. 00:24:22.598 --> 00:24:24.970 It stinks. 00:24:24.970 --> 00:24:27.629 But above all that, 00:24:27.629 --> 00:24:29.374 the Lord is teaching us here 00:24:29.374 --> 00:24:30.963 that we can depend on Him 00:24:30.963 --> 00:24:33.502 day by day. 00:24:33.502 --> 00:24:35.974 This is the teaching here. 00:24:35.974 --> 00:24:38.470 You see, this text here, 00:24:38.470 --> 00:24:39.749 I think it's what our Lord 00:24:39.749 --> 00:24:40.672 likely had in mind 00:24:40.672 --> 00:24:42.622 when He said in the Sermon on the Mount; 00:24:42.622 --> 00:24:44.279 when He taught us to pray there: 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:47.610 Give us this day our daily bread. 00:24:47.610 --> 00:24:51.515 Not tomorrow's mercies in advance. 00:24:51.515 --> 00:24:54.518 But you see, we can trust the Lord each day 00:24:54.518 --> 00:24:56.647 is the teaching. 00:24:56.647 --> 00:24:58.332 As He said there, 00:24:58.332 --> 00:25:01.732 but if God so clothes the grass of the field, 00:25:01.732 --> 00:25:02.887 which today is alive 00:25:02.887 --> 00:25:05.886 and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 00:25:05.886 --> 00:25:07.773 will He not much more clothe you, 00:25:07.773 --> 00:25:09.738 O ye of little faith? 00:25:09.738 --> 00:25:11.473 Therefore do not be anxious, 00:25:11.473 --> 00:25:13.280 saying what shall we eat 00:25:13.280 --> 00:25:14.395 or what shall we drink 00:25:14.395 --> 00:25:15.975 or what shall we wear? 00:25:15.975 --> 00:25:17.617 For the Gentiles (the unconverted) 00:25:17.617 --> 00:25:19.326 seek after these things, 00:25:19.326 --> 00:25:21.916 and your heavenly Father knows 00:25:21.916 --> 00:25:23.712 you have need of them all. 00:25:23.712 --> 00:25:25.590 But seek first the Kingdom of God 00:25:25.590 --> 00:25:26.745 and His righteousness, 00:25:26.745 --> 00:25:28.843 and all these things will be added to you. 00:25:28.843 --> 00:25:31.281 Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow. 00:25:31.281 --> 00:25:33.632 For tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:25:33.632 --> 00:25:39.004 Sufficient for today is its own trouble. 00:25:39.007 --> 00:25:42.789 You see, grumbling tends to exaggerate 00:25:42.789 --> 00:25:45.386 the woes and the trials of the future 00:25:45.386 --> 00:25:48.147 as does anxiety. 00:25:48.147 --> 00:25:50.656 But we are being taught in this 00:25:50.656 --> 00:25:56.228 that we can trust the Lord day by day. 00:25:56.228 --> 00:25:59.593 Not being told a month in advance 00:25:59.593 --> 00:26:03.815 or a year in advance. 00:26:03.815 --> 00:26:06.090 You see, worry and anxiety, 00:26:06.090 --> 00:26:07.972 it's basically living out the future 00:26:07.972 --> 00:26:10.400 before it comes. 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:13.369 (Incomplete thought) 00:26:13.369 --> 00:26:14.980 The devil can really use this 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:16.644 and get you to exaggerate the woes. 00:26:16.644 --> 00:26:19.674 The result of it is it causes people 00:26:19.674 --> 00:26:21.986 to distrust the Lord in the present 00:26:21.986 --> 00:26:24.635 and do things wrong there. 00:26:24.635 --> 00:26:26.241 But we're taught here about how 00:26:26.241 --> 00:26:29.795 we can trust the Lord day by day. 00:26:29.795 --> 00:26:32.237 And then from v. 22 to the end 00:26:32.237 --> 00:26:33.956 of the chapter. 00:26:33.956 --> 00:26:35.902 We get this about the Sabbath here. 00:26:35.902 --> 00:26:37.886 "On the sixth day, they gathered 00:26:37.886 --> 00:26:39.390 twice as much bread, 00:26:39.390 --> 00:26:40.322 two omers each. 00:26:40.322 --> 00:26:42.495 And when all the leaders of the congregation 00:26:42.495 --> 00:26:43.927 came and told Moses, 00:26:43.927 --> 00:26:44.891 he said to them, 00:26:44.891 --> 00:26:46.741 'this is what the Lord has commanded. 00:26:46.741 --> 00:26:49.018 Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest; 00:26:49.018 --> 00:26:51.120 a holy Sabbath to the Lord. 00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:52.805 Bake what you will bake 00:26:52.805 --> 00:26:54.426 and boil what you will boil, 00:26:54.426 --> 00:26:57.168 All that is left over and lay aside 00:26:57.168 --> 00:26:59.629 to be kept till the morning.' 00:26:59.629 --> 00:27:02.256 So they laid it aside till the morning 00:27:02.256 --> 00:27:03.789 as Moses had commanded them, 00:27:03.789 --> 00:27:05.589 and it did not stink 00:27:05.589 --> 00:27:07.945 and there were no worms in it." 00:27:07.945 --> 00:27:09.447 Now, that's a test of faith 00:27:09.447 --> 00:27:11.659 and obedience, isn't it? 00:27:11.659 --> 00:27:13.227 Because in the previous days, 00:27:13.227 --> 00:27:14.402 if they left some over, 00:27:14.402 --> 00:27:15.197 it stunk. 00:27:15.197 --> 00:27:16.366 That's what they'd see. 00:27:16.366 --> 00:27:17.720 But then, they were rather 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:19.286 asked to gather two days worth 00:27:19.286 --> 00:27:20.706 before the Sabbath. 00:27:20.706 --> 00:27:22.572 And it did not stink. 00:27:22.572 --> 00:27:25.216 V. 25, "Moses said, 'eat it today, 00:27:25.216 --> 00:27:27.807 for today is a Sabbath to the Lord. 00:27:27.807 --> 00:27:30.216 Today you will not find it in the field. 00:27:30.216 --> 00:27:31.924 Six days you shall gather it, 00:27:31.924 --> 00:27:33.296 but on the seventh day, 00:27:33.296 --> 00:27:34.861 which is a Sabbath, 00:27:34.861 --> 00:27:38.880 there will be none.'" 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:40.405 I want you to think here 00:27:40.405 --> 00:27:42.651 about the link - 00:27:42.651 --> 00:27:44.326 what is the link 00:27:44.326 --> 00:27:47.860 in the midst of a passage 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:49.106 about grumbling - 00:27:49.106 --> 00:27:51.167 and he gives us much in the way 00:27:51.167 --> 00:27:52.350 God deals with them 00:27:52.350 --> 00:27:55.360 or a remedy for grumbling. 00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:57.072 Why does he suddenly start talking 00:27:57.072 --> 00:27:59.799 about the Sabbath day? 00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:03.777 What is the link here? 00:28:03.777 --> 00:28:06.897 I think the Lord is teaching us here, brethren, 00:28:06.897 --> 00:28:10.827 you can trust the Lord enough to rest. 00:28:10.827 --> 00:28:13.709 You know, the world won't stop revolving 00:28:13.709 --> 00:28:16.447 if you stop worrying for just one second, 00:28:16.447 --> 00:28:22.476 believe it or not. 00:28:22.476 --> 00:28:25.088 You know, it's easy for parents, isn't it, 00:28:25.088 --> 00:28:29.202 that when you go through a trial 00:28:29.202 --> 00:28:31.518 and you spend scheduled time 00:28:31.518 --> 00:28:33.286 with your children 00:28:33.286 --> 00:28:36.113 or some other family member 00:28:36.113 --> 00:28:38.108 you're supposed to be spending time with, 00:28:38.108 --> 00:28:39.924 you can be spending time with them - 00:28:39.924 --> 00:28:42.118 your children - but you're not really there 00:28:42.118 --> 00:28:43.933 because you're thinking about 00:28:43.933 --> 00:28:50.216 whatever trial there is on your mind. 00:28:50.216 --> 00:28:54.021 But I've kind of learned after time, 00:28:54.021 --> 00:28:56.312 God can cope without me worrying 00:28:56.312 --> 00:28:59.606 about something for a few seconds 00:28:59.606 --> 00:29:01.468 and to spend that time with them. 00:29:01.468 --> 00:29:03.312 You know, as a pastor at home 00:29:03.312 --> 00:29:06.295 I have a kind of Monday off, if you like, 00:29:06.295 --> 00:29:09.306 where basically I don't do any counseling 00:29:09.306 --> 00:29:10.736 on a Monday, 00:29:10.736 --> 00:29:13.011 or the normal churchy things on a Monday 00:29:13.011 --> 00:29:16.062 that I do on other days. 00:29:16.062 --> 00:29:19.904 And it's been a hard lesson for me to learn. 00:29:19.904 --> 00:29:21.189 At first, I was like, 00:29:21.189 --> 00:29:23.446 Lord, are You sure You can manage 00:29:23.446 --> 00:29:28.413 without me and run the church for a day? 00:29:28.413 --> 00:29:30.369 And you know, it's like the Lord says, 00:29:30.369 --> 00:29:32.009 well, let Me think about that one. 00:29:32.009 --> 00:29:33.894 You know, I made the world in six days 00:29:33.894 --> 00:29:35.275 at the command of My voice. 00:29:35.275 --> 00:29:37.126 I placed the stars in orbit. 00:29:37.126 --> 00:29:39.163 I parted the Red Sea. 00:29:39.163 --> 00:29:42.144 Yeah, I think I can just about manage 00:29:42.144 --> 00:29:45.020 for a little bit without you. 00:29:45.020 --> 00:29:46.067 But you see, brethren, 00:29:46.067 --> 00:29:50.904 in that illustration how ridiculous we get 00:29:50.904 --> 00:29:53.540 when we don't think we can rest. 00:29:53.540 --> 00:29:59.876 What a distrust of the Lord it is, really. 00:29:59.876 --> 00:30:01.485 You know, it's funny though, 00:30:01.485 --> 00:30:03.744 when, at least in my experience, 00:30:03.744 --> 00:30:06.965 when I do have the Monday off, 00:30:06.965 --> 00:30:08.619 normally it's the more grumbly, 00:30:08.619 --> 00:30:11.168 hypercritical spirit who are the ones 00:30:11.168 --> 00:30:13.552 who are always trying to intrude upon that. 00:30:13.552 --> 00:30:16.421 Desperate for me to sort out whatever. 00:30:16.421 --> 00:30:18.680 It's like I don't care what day it is. 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.972 If I say, "jump," 00:30:19.972 --> 00:30:25.970 I expect my pastor to say, "how high?" 00:30:25.970 --> 00:30:30.220 But anyway, then in v. 27-28, 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:33.864 we see the Sabbath breakers. 00:30:33.864 --> 00:30:37.335 From v. 26, once again, 00:30:37.335 --> 00:30:39.215 "Six days you shall gather it, 00:30:39.215 --> 00:30:40.333 but on the seventh day 00:30:40.333 --> 00:30:41.436 which is a Sabbath, 00:30:41.436 --> 00:30:42.399 there will be none. 00:30:42.399 --> 00:30:43.540 On the seventh day, 00:30:43.540 --> 00:30:45.074 some of the people went out 00:30:45.074 --> 00:30:47.168 to gather but they found none. 00:30:47.168 --> 00:30:48.822 And the Lord said to Moses, 00:30:48.822 --> 00:30:50.417 'how long will you refuse to keep 00:30:50.417 --> 00:30:55.839 My commandments and My laws?'" 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:57.826 And I think there's application 00:30:57.826 --> 00:31:00.362 for the Lord's Day here. 00:31:00.362 --> 00:31:02.354 Just as these Israelites, 00:31:02.354 --> 00:31:05.644 they prepared before the Sabbath 00:31:05.644 --> 00:31:08.392 by gathering what they needed 00:31:08.392 --> 00:31:10.839 the day before there. 00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:12.623 I think it's good, isn't it, 00:31:12.623 --> 00:31:14.566 to prepare for the Lord's Day? 00:31:14.566 --> 00:31:15.541 If you can. 00:31:15.541 --> 00:31:18.140 As in make sure you're not overly tired 00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:20.719 to come in and be with the people. 00:31:20.719 --> 00:31:22.420 That you've done things 00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:24.417 so you're not rushing around like crazy. 00:31:24.417 --> 00:31:26.358 I'm not saying you can't go to the shop 00:31:26.358 --> 00:31:27.738 for some milk or something 00:31:27.738 --> 00:31:39.151 if you've run out or anything like that. 00:31:39.151 --> 00:31:42.496 But from v. 29, 00:31:42.496 --> 00:31:45.594 "See the Lord has given you the Sabbath. 00:31:45.594 --> 00:31:47.744 Therefore, on the sixth day, 00:31:47.744 --> 00:31:50.215 He gives you bread for two days. 00:31:50.215 --> 00:31:51.945 Remain each in his place. 00:31:51.945 --> 00:31:54.239 Let no one go out of his place 00:31:54.239 --> 00:31:55.555 on the seventh day. 00:31:55.555 --> 00:32:00.634 So the people rested on the seventh day." 00:32:00.634 --> 00:32:02.709 Notice that lastly. 00:32:02.709 --> 00:32:05.375 The people rested on the seventh day. 00:32:05.375 --> 00:32:07.731 Once again, Sabbath, 00:32:07.731 --> 00:32:11.743 and that principle there of rest. 00:32:11.743 --> 00:32:15.589 What's your idea of Sabbath rest? 00:32:15.589 --> 00:32:18.774 Or the Lord's Day? 00:32:18.774 --> 00:32:22.547 Is it a long list of burdensome rules? 00:32:22.547 --> 00:32:24.046 You know, our Lord Jesus said, 00:32:24.046 --> 00:32:25.851 didn't He, the thing you must know 00:32:25.851 --> 00:32:31.266 about the Sabbath is it was made for man. 00:32:31.266 --> 00:32:33.381 That is, can you trust Me 00:32:33.381 --> 00:32:36.219 enough to rest? 00:32:36.219 --> 00:32:39.224 And the thing He most wants us to learn 00:32:39.224 --> 00:32:42.157 most of all though 00:32:42.157 --> 00:32:45.626 is that you can trust in Him 00:32:45.626 --> 00:32:49.732 and rest in what He's done for salvation. 00:32:49.732 --> 00:32:54.833 In that picture of the Gospel rest 00:32:54.833 --> 00:32:58.099 which it ultimately points to there. 00:32:58.099 --> 00:33:00.602 I think I've used this illustration before here. 00:33:00.602 --> 00:33:02.024 My wife always tells me off 00:33:02.024 --> 00:33:04.616 for using the same illustrations. 00:33:04.616 --> 00:33:06.168 So forgive me if I have. 00:33:06.168 --> 00:33:08.362 She always says when you use an illustration 00:33:08.362 --> 00:33:09.389 you've given before, 00:33:09.389 --> 00:33:14.422 I just switch off. 00:33:14.422 --> 00:33:16.268 But you have that picture, don't you, 00:33:16.268 --> 00:33:19.313 in Genesis of God making the world. 00:33:19.313 --> 00:33:21.122 There was an evening and a morning - 00:33:21.122 --> 00:33:21.874 the first day. 00:33:21.874 --> 00:33:23.905 An evening and a morning, the second day. 00:33:23.905 --> 00:33:26.419 An evening, a morning, a third day. 00:33:26.419 --> 00:33:30.307 Until you get to the Sabbath day. 00:33:30.307 --> 00:33:32.160 And there's no evening and morning. 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:34.829 It's just a continual day. 00:33:34.829 --> 00:33:40.922 When God rested on the Sabbath day there, 00:33:40.922 --> 00:33:44.664 it's not that He rested and then He carried on 00:33:44.664 --> 00:33:45.886 on the following day. 00:33:45.886 --> 00:33:47.904 But He rested from it 00:33:47.904 --> 00:33:50.496 because it's finished. 00:33:50.496 --> 00:33:52.516 The work is all done. 00:33:52.516 --> 00:33:54.466 So He entered into His rest. 00:33:54.466 --> 00:33:56.028 And you see, that's the picture 00:33:56.028 --> 00:33:57.985 of what Christ would do on the cross 00:33:57.985 --> 00:34:02.608 there when He said, "It is finished." 00:34:02.608 --> 00:34:04.131 He's done everything needed 00:34:04.131 --> 00:34:06.580 for salvation. 00:34:06.580 --> 00:34:08.205 And you see, that is where 00:34:08.205 --> 00:34:09.773 salvation comes, doesn't it? 00:34:09.773 --> 00:34:15.916 Resting in what Christ has done for you. 00:34:15.916 --> 00:34:19.851 And so, to really finish then, 00:34:19.851 --> 00:34:21.726 from v. 31-36, 00:34:21.726 --> 00:34:23.904 we're told how some of the manna 00:34:23.904 --> 00:34:26.767 was stored, just so later, 00:34:26.767 --> 00:34:29.155 it would be one of the items 00:34:29.155 --> 00:34:34.211 in the ark of the covenant there. 00:34:34.211 --> 00:34:38.214 He tells them to take a jar of it and so forth, 00:34:38.214 --> 00:34:41.324 but in John 6, 00:34:41.324 --> 00:34:44.878 people came to Jesus and they said to Him, 00:34:44.878 --> 00:34:47.587 "What must we do 00:34:47.587 --> 00:34:50.652 to be doing the works of God?" 00:34:50.652 --> 00:34:52.689 What must we do to be doing the works, 00:34:52.689 --> 00:34:53.885 the miracles of God? 00:34:53.885 --> 00:34:56.533 They asked Jesus there in John 6. 00:34:56.533 --> 00:34:57.845 You see, these people, 00:34:57.845 --> 00:35:00.193 they had just seen Jesus feed the 5,000 00:35:00.193 --> 00:35:02.223 with five loaves and two fishes. 00:35:02.223 --> 00:35:03.524 So they were asking Him, 00:35:03.524 --> 00:35:05.931 what must we do? 00:35:05.931 --> 00:35:12.688 So we can do a miracle like this. 00:35:12.688 --> 00:35:14.253 As Jesus had just said to them, 00:35:14.253 --> 00:35:19.613 you are seeking Me for the wrong reasons. 00:35:19.613 --> 00:35:21.713 You see, in the miracle of the feeding 00:35:21.713 --> 00:35:23.841 of the 5,000, they didn't come to realize 00:35:23.841 --> 00:35:25.345 Who He was. 00:35:25.345 --> 00:35:28.782 And so they wanted to do miracles, these people, 00:35:28.782 --> 00:35:31.455 rather than seeking Him. 00:35:31.455 --> 00:35:32.965 Well, Jesus answered them, 00:35:32.965 --> 00:35:34.841 "This is the work of God: 00:35:34.841 --> 00:35:37.812 that you believe in Him Whom He has sent. 00:35:37.812 --> 00:35:40.002 So they said to Him, 00:35:40.002 --> 00:35:43.905 'then what sign do you do 00:35:43.905 --> 00:35:46.920 that we may see Him and believe You, 00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:49.681 and what work You may perform? 00:35:49.681 --> 00:35:51.021 Our fathers ate the manna 00:35:51.021 --> 00:35:52.520 in the wilderness. 00:35:52.520 --> 00:35:53.388 As it is written, 00:35:53.388 --> 00:35:55.506 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' 00:35:55.506 --> 00:35:56.542 Jesus said to them, 00:35:56.542 --> 00:35:58.716 'Truly, truly, I say to you, 00:35:58.716 --> 00:36:00.661 it was not Moses who gave you 00:36:00.661 --> 00:36:02.102 the bread from heaven, 00:36:02.102 --> 00:36:03.637 but My Father gives you 00:36:03.637 --> 00:36:05.632 the true bread from heaven. 00:36:05.632 --> 00:36:07.491 For the bread of God is He Who 00:36:07.491 --> 00:36:09.127 comes down from heaven 00:36:09.127 --> 00:36:11.939 and gives life to the world. 00:36:11.939 --> 00:36:12.926 They said to Him, 00:36:12.926 --> 00:36:15.268 'Sir, give us this bread always.' 00:36:15.268 --> 00:36:16.679 Jesus said to them, 00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:18.823 'I am the bread of life. 00:36:18.823 --> 00:36:21.687 Whoever comes to Me shall not hunger. 00:36:21.687 --> 00:36:25.046 Whoever comes to Me shall not thirst.'" 00:36:25.046 --> 00:36:28.592 You see, He is the true Manna. 00:36:28.592 --> 00:36:30.989 Christ is not some temporary provision 00:36:30.989 --> 00:36:34.395 that lasted forty years, in other words, 00:36:34.395 --> 00:36:37.017 but everlasting. 00:36:37.017 --> 00:36:38.382 You see, Jesus is the One 00:36:38.382 --> 00:36:40.034 you must come to to rest in, 00:36:40.034 --> 00:36:44.743 and feed from Him for everlasting life. 00:36:44.743 --> 00:36:46.219 You see, just as this manna 00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:47.791 sustained in the wilderness, 00:36:47.791 --> 00:36:50.475 Christ is the One 00:36:50.475 --> 00:36:53.577 Who must sustain you before the judgment, 00:36:53.577 --> 00:36:57.354 Who we are to feed upon there. 00:36:57.354 --> 00:36:59.343 So that's what I have to say. 00:36:59.343 --> 00:37:04.898 Let's pray. 00:37:04.898 --> 00:37:06.833 Our Father, I just pray that these words 00:37:06.833 --> 00:37:09.829 would be helpful to the brothers and sisters, 00:37:09.829 --> 00:37:13.402 for the unity of the church here, 00:37:13.402 --> 00:37:18.673 to knit hearts together as David and Jonathan. 00:37:18.673 --> 00:37:20.267 Keep us from evil, we ask. 00:37:20.267 --> 00:37:23.474 Keep us from a grumbling spirit. 00:37:23.474 --> 00:37:28.569 Keep us from temptation. 00:37:28.569 --> 00:37:30.351 Help us to feed on You. 00:37:30.351 --> 00:37:31.441 In Jesus' name, 00:37:31.441 --> 00:37:32.934 Amen.