The Apostle Paul writes, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content…I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:11,13).  He wrote that from prison, which was like a “wilderness” experience for him. In the “wilderness,” whether literal or figurative, we can grow spiritually. Although nobody likes it, the wilderness is where we grow in reliance on God.   

After being delivered from Egypt through the Red Sea, the Israelites are led by Moses and God into the desert wilderness. It doesn’t take long for them to grumble, a word occurring eight times in chapter 16. They grumble about water. They grumble about food. They accuse God and Moses of taking them out there to kill them. Thankfully,

God is gracious with grumblers.

God keeps leading them (and us) into situations where our faith is tested and we are forced to admit that we don’t fully rely on God. In the wilderness, our false props are stripped away. God explicitly states that he is testing them (v. 4). Such tests are meant to reveal our faith levels, rather than fail us. The Israelites score pretty low in trusting God despite having seen his miraculous signs and wonders. (See Psalm 95:7b-11).

God graciously provided water many times, and for forty years he provided manna, a type of bread from heaven. He even sent quail into their camp for meat. Jesus directly fulfilled these gracious acts in John 6 & 7. He gave bread and meat to 5,000 in a wilderness location. He promised living water at the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus is the only thing that can fully satisfy our longings.

Taking It Home: Read Acts 2:42-47 noting how those first disciples were the opposite of grumblers. Ask God to grant you their perspective.