Scripture: Exodus 16:1-22:15
God's people miraculously crossed the Red Sea to freedom. The Lord proved Himself faithful and trustworthy. He provided for every need. With all the miracles they had witnessed, you would think the Israelites would have completely trusted God for everything and complained about nothing. However, crossing the sea brought more than freedom. It also brought uncertainty.
“‘If only the LORD had killed us back in Egypt,’ they moaned. ‘There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.’” (Exodus 16:3)
Why would they want to go back to Egypt? Why would anyone want to return to any form of slavery after a beautiful and miraculous delivery?
As horrible as their forced labor and cruel oppression may have been in Egypt, the Israelites felt secure and comfortable. They knew what to do and when to do it—from sunup to sundown, they made bricks. Their physical needs were provided for through fine foods and roofs over their heads. Slavery offered security.
Yet the wilderness forced them into an unknown, unfamiliar place of insecurity. Trusting God for their daily meals, guidance through the desert, and well-being rattled the Israelites. They were faced with a new rhythm of life and didn’t know how to react. The uncertainty led to discontent expressed through complaints.
The familiar is comfortable, but it is not always where God wants us to stay; it can be harmful, painful, or sinful. Our exodus may lead us to places we’ve never been. In these new terrains it’s important we remember that our God is trustworthy. As we tremble in the insecurity of the unknown, we should hold tight to the hand that delivered us. He brought us thus far and He is able to take us further still.
