16 B'SHALLACH (after he had let go); Ex 13:17-17:16, Mark 6

[Bruce Bertram]

Ex 13:17-17:16; Judges 4:1-5:31; Mark 6


The people of Israel are finally on their way, going through the wilderness to the Red Sea. They take everything with them, even the bones of Joseph, in addition to getting a whole bunch of plunder from the Egyptians (like a going away present?). God leads them with a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night, and we find out in 14:19 that this is also the angel of God. They end up at a camping place with their backs to the sea, because God knows that Pharaoh isn't done yet. Pharaoh and his servants realize they have let all their slave labor go, and decide to get them back by force so they set out in a large army and catch up to Israel at the sea. Israel, in the first of many whinings, complains to Moses thinking that they are toast.

But God, as always, knows what He is doing, and sets up a rear guard action to delay Pharaoh and his cohorts by moving the pillar (the Angel) between Israel and Pharaoh. Moses does his thing with holding the staff over the water, and the sea parts. Israel passes through on dry ground, and Egypt pursues. God causes Pharaoh’s army to become mired, and the waters are allowed to return, nixing the grand plan of Egypt to get back their free labor pool. Israel is so happy they sing songs and celebrate for a while. In 14:31 we read that Israel 'believed God' and 'believed Moses,' at least until the next problem arises.

Speaking of which, the next problem to confront the 600,000 men of Israel (not counting women and children) is a lack of water. Marah (means 'bitter') is the place where there is bitter water, and Moses is given instructions from God about a piece of wood to throw in and make the waters sweet to drink. Notice what is said here.

26And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.” (Exodus 15:26 NASB95)

Israel is actually getting 'law' before the time of Mount Sinai, pointing out the eternal nature of God's Word, whether in the form of a law or not.

So Israel moves on to the wilderness of Sin (clay or thorn - interesting name, that) and grumbles about not having bread and meat. God provides (doesn't He always?) bread and meat, and the Sabbath is reinstituted. Some in Israel refuse to cooperate at first, and cause the bread material (manna) to go bad. Israel ends up eating this bread for 40 years of wandering in the desert, due ultimately to their grumblings against God and refusal to obey His instructions. More grumblings take place at Massah (temptation) and Meribah (strife or contention) where it is said that God is tested, which obviously isn't a good thing. God says He will "stand before you there on the rock" as Moses strikes it and cause water to come out.

Later, the Amalekites attack Israel, and Israel fights back and wins as long as Moses holds up his hands. When he drops them down they lose. So Aaron and Hur help him by giving Moses a rock to rest on and prop up his arms for him. The Amalekites earn the undying enmity of God because of the attack.

In Mark 6, Jesus shows up at His hometown and can't do very much because the people think they know who He is and so do not have faith. The twelve are sent out in pairs to preach the gospel, and Herod hears of the miracles of Jesus and thinks He is John the Baptist resurrected. We find out what Herod (son of the guy who killed all the babies in Bethlehem) did with John, giving his head to the daughter of his wife for dancing real well. The disciples meanwhile bring back a report to Jesus of their successful activities, and Jesus continues to heal all those He can. A huge crowd gathers around Jesus and the disciples out away from town, and they end up feeding 5,000 men (not counting women and children) and have more left over than what they started with.

After this, the disciples start back in a boat for the other side of the lake, but run into trouble with a storm in the wee hours of the morn. Jesus comes to them walking on the water, and "made as if to pass by them." How funny is this? (Except to the disciples). Jesus is acting like He is going to 'walk by,' at the fourth watch (early morning) in a storm, on a lake? Does Jesus have a great sense of humor or what? Jesus calms the storm, and they end up landing at Gennasaret, where Jesus spends a lot more time healing all comers.

Shalom

[Bruce Bertram]

7and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, for He hears your grumblings against the LORD; and what are we, that you grumble against us?” (Exodus 16:7 NASB95)
9Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, ‘Come near before the LORD, for He has heard your grumblings.’ ” (Exodus 16:9 NASB95)

In our Exodus section (13:17-17:16) Israel sees even more miraculous intervention from God, over the plagues. They see God working, yet do not recognize who He really is or what He is doing. It’s as if they were just watching God on TV, where things look real but it’s all special effects. Mark 6 continues this thought with Jesus making a visit to His hometown where very few people trust Him because they think they know who He is, and He could do no miracle there.

Out in the desert the people grumble four times (in this section). Once when they are trapped by the Egyptian army, once at Marah where the water was bitter, once between Elim and Sinai for meat and bread, and once at Rephidim where Moses strikes the rock for water. Every time things get a little tough Israel goes el-foldo on God (although I would probably have folded like this also, because no water and no food is pretty serious). Israel sees the miracles, experiences deliverance, then whines and cries at the slightest seeming setback. Yet God is up to the task, and provides whatever is needed in every single instance. Even when it seems as if there is no way for God to come through, He does. Even if He has to make bread rain down from heaven or squeeze water out of a rock. We need to note also that at this point in the narrative nobody dies for grumbling or disobedience. That will come later, as more grumbling develops and more disobedience materializes.

Israel also disobeys twice in our Exodus section, once with keeping manna till morning and once with checking for it on Saturday. So even when things don’t look tough, and it’s just a matter of doing what God says, when there is no threat or disaster threatening, Israel still falls flat. Moses makes the first of many exhortations to do what God says, because Israel will disobey many times in the coming days and years.

26And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.” (Exodus 15:26 NASB95)
28Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions? (Exodus 16:28 NASB95)

Grumbling is a favorite pastime of Israel, both now and later. It takes many forms, including simply ignoring what He says all the way up to killing the prophets who deliver God’s commands to repent. There is grumbling again when God shows up in the form of a man at His hometown, and very few seem to recognize Him as they eat bread of His creation during the picnic of Mark 6:33-44. That provision of bread was just as miraculous as the manna was, yet it seems to be glossed over as if it was commonplace.

Before we come down too heavy on the Israelites, however, how many times does God provide for us, whether or not it’s a miracle? How many times does He just ask us to do some small thing, and we can’t follow through? Can you think of ways in which God has provided for you when you thought no help was coming? What about times that provision was given you, but you didn’t realize it was from God? Do we ever realize that everything we have is from Him? Does this realization bring with it thankfulness and acknowledgment of God’s provision, or grumbling because we didn’t get what we wanted? What have you grumbled about lately?

Grumbling in the gospels. Luke 5:30, 15:2, 19:7

1For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3and all ate the same spiritual food; 4and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. 6Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.” 8Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:1-13 NASB95)
1What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:1-4 NASB95)

Salvation is said by God to be a mighty act, yet how often do we treat our own salvation like so much chump change from God? Remember, when we grumble it is ultimately directed at God, who provides all things, including consequences for our actions as well as blessings.

18I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:18-21 NASB95)

Shalom

[Bruce Bertram]

Exodus 13:17 – 17:16; Judges 4:1 – 5:31; Mark 6; John 6:22-40, 19:31-37; Luke 2:22-24; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Revelation 15:1-4

but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:49–52, ESV)

These verses come on the heels of the feeding of the five thousand. A crowd had gathered around Jesus in a fairly remote place, as was usual, and food was scarce. Jesus sat everyone down for a picnic and fed them bread with fish. Later, the disciples are rowing across the sea and having a hard time, and Jesus catches up to them walking on the water. When He got in the boat, the wind stopped. Mark records that the disciples didn’t get it.

He says “they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.” So why would he link walking on water, the picnic, and the disciple’s hard-hearted astonishment? Because both events demonstrate clearly and without argument (not that people don’t argue anyway) that Jesus is from God, and is God.

God was the one to give bread to Israel in the desert. He made bread come down out of heaven, and it provided for the entire nation. Just like Jesus at the picnic. Except Jesus also teaches that He IS the bread from heaven.

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:32–33, ESV)

Jesus gave life in the form of bread, just as the Father gave life to Israel in the form of manna. Jesus also gives us bread that is not in the form of flour and water. It is His own body and blood, a ransom for everyone who will eat it and drink it.

The bread that Jesus offers is spiritual food, and His blood is spiritual drink. It is the Word of God in all its forms, shapes, and delivery methods. It is shared just like in the picnic, and it gives life to our soul in the same way loaves and fish gives life to our flesh. There is an infinite supply of this life, enough to feed the universe.

Yet there are many who refuse the picnic of His blood and body. Or who share in some of it, but are overthrown because they do not continue in it.

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. (1 Corinthians 10:1–6, ESV)

Just because people had a picnic with God where 5,000 men were miraculously fed in a bread and fish buffet, does not mean they were ‘saved.’ In order to be saved, we must continue in salvation by doing everything that God commands. If we stop and “desire evil” as Paul says of Israel in the wilderness, then it is obvious the picnic wasn’t proof of salvation.

All humans participate in God’s picnic even now. We enjoy sunshine, rain in season (hopefully), growing things, and the ability to earn a living. Obviously, simply being here and taking in God’s blessings and bounty doesn’t constitute automatic salvation. We must choose His spiritual food and drink. Hunger and thirst after His Kingdom and righteousness. In a word, we need to persevere in our picnic to be counted as His child. Mere attendance at church, or synagogue, or whatever the name of the picnic, is not enough.

This is where His Law helps so wonderfully. Each and every command we can incorporate into daily living is like taking in parts of His body and blood in a cosmic picnic.

But it’s also not enough to follow some rules here and there. The disciples followed the Law as best they knew at the time. I’m sure there were many at the picnic that followed the Law too. Still their hearts were hard, because they did not recognize the King of Glory. The disciples even saw Him walking to them on the stormy water after the sharing of the bread and fish and they didn’t get it. The difference is love, which can only come from a soft heart. We have to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:5, ESV)

Loving Him in that way is equated to following the Law, but with a whole heart, as Josiah is said to have done. We’ve got to give it everything we’ve got.

Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums and the necromancers and the household gods and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him. (2 Kings 23:24–25, ESV)

When we obey, we love. It’s not two separate ideas. We cannot love God and refuse to obey. That sort of half-love is what He calls lip service. Believers search the Scriptures, including the Law, and find every scrap of bread and blood available to place in our hearts and live out in our lives. We do this because we love Him, and every Word He speaks is like precious sustenance four our souls.

May you continue in His Word, and be nourished in His picnic of loving sacrifice.

Shalom
Bruce