旷野中的食物
出埃及记十六章1至8节
1以色列全会众从以琳起行，在出埃及后第二个月十五日到了以琳和西乃中间、汛的旷野。
2以色列全会众在旷野向摩西、亚伦发怨言，
3说：巴不得我们早死在埃及地、耶和华的手下；那时我们坐在肉锅旁边，吃得饱足。你们将我们领出来，到这旷野，是要叫这全会众都饿死阿！
4耶和华对摩西说：我要将粮食从天降给你们。百姓可以出去，每天收每天的分，我好试验他们遵不遵我的法度。
5到第六天，他们要把所收进来的预备好了，比每天所收的多一倍。
6摩西、亚伦对以色列众人说：到了晚上，你们要知道是耶和华将你们从埃及地领出来。
7早晨，你们要看见耶和华的荣耀，因为耶和华听见你们向他所发的怨言了。我们算甚么，你们竟向我们发怨言呢？
8摩西又说：耶和华晚上必给你们肉吃，早晨必给你们食物得饱；因为你们向耶和华发的怨言，他都听见了。我们算甚么，你们的怨言不是向我们发的，乃是向耶和华发的。
信息分享
自以色列人准备就绪，从离开埃及至今只不过短短数周，但他们的确经历的却是非常惊心动魄！在离开前的第一个「逾越节」晚上，他们因着羔羊的血而得蒙拯救；当神的使者在天上越过时便免被灭命。他们出埃及的时候，有火柱和云柱引领他们。接着，他们亲眼看见红海分开，让他们安然走过彼岸。过了几天，神又使苦水变成甜水。如今，他们将要看见神怎样在旷野中为他们提供食物。神的能力从来不会受环境所限制。
以色列人在旷野行走，苦无食物，于是又开始发怨言。他们的不信，正是忘恩负义的表现。他们不单不懂得信靠神，反而缅怀埃及的生活（3节）。在信仰的历程中，埃及正是世界的写照。当信徒的心思经常惦念世界的事，他就不能够真正去信靠神了。
神听见他们的怨怼之声，于是承诺赐给他们食物。但你有没有留意神还要做甚么呢？请看第4节。神赐下食物的方式，是要考验百姓是否听从祂的吩咐。我们将会在明天的查经中，看看那是个怎样的考验，以及百姓是否通得过考验。
这当中所涉及的原则却值得每一代的信徒反思。我们可能正做着神的工作，可是，我们有否停下来反问自己（和求问神），我们是否用神所指示的方法去做？依从神的指示去做，就一如做神的工作那样重要。
最后，愿我们以这首诗歌作为我们的勉励：
主凡事引导（生命圣诗313首）
救世主凡事引导我，弯曲路祂赐喜乐，
遇试炼主赐恩相助，生命粮日日赐我。
我步履虽疲乏欲跌，我心灵干渴无力，
幸我见灵磐现我前，喜乐泉涌流不息。
FOOD IN THE DESERT
Exodus 16:1-8
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.”
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.”
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.”
Message
What a tremendous few weeks it had been since Israel had left Egypt! On the first night they had been saved by the blood of the lamb at the 'passover' time. When they left Egypt they had been guided by the pillar of fire and cloud. They had seen the Red Sea open up to allow them to go safety through. Several days later God had given them to go safely through. Several days later God had given them sweet water instead of bitter. Now they were to see how God could give them food even in a desert. Circumstances can never limit God's power.
Under the pressure of hunger, the Children of Israel again began to complain. Unbelief has a short memory. Instead of trusting God, they began to turn their hearts back to Egypt (v.3). Egypt has always been a picture of the world. No believer can really trust God while his mind is going back to the things of the world.
God heard their complaint and promised to supply them with both meat and bread. But did you notice what else he said? Look at verse 4 again. God would provide food in such a way that it would test their obedience to his instructions. We will see in our next reading just what his test was and how it worked.
The principle involved still holds good. We may be doing God's work, but have we ever stopped to ask ourselves (and God) if we are doing it in God's way? This is just as important as doing the work itself.
The hymn says it very well. Why not sing the first verse as you finish this reading today?
'When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word,
What a glory he sheds on our way.
While we do his good will he abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.'