Recap Exodus 16: Disobedience has a smell: Lessons from the Manna

In Exodus 16, God provided a miracle every morning: Manna from heaven. But along with the miracle came specific instructions. God wasn't just testing their appetites; He was testing their hearts. When we look at their mistakes, we see a mirror of our own struggles with trust and greed.

1. The Stench of "Holding Back"

In Exodus 16:20, God gave a simple command: gather only what you need for today. But some people tried to hoard it. They wanted a backup plan just in case God didn’t show up tomorrow.

The result? The extra food bred maggots and began to stink.

Disobedience has a smell. When we try to keep what God has told us to release—whether it's a "hoarding" mentality or, as you mentioned, trying to keep back part of a tithe—it doesn't lead to more. Instead, it "rots" our spiritual life. It doesn't work for our betterment; it just introduces a "terrible smell" into our relationship with the Father.

2. The Trap of the "Seventh Day" Hustle

In Exodus 16:27, we see the second act of disobedience. God told the people to rest on the Sabbath and focus on Him. Yet, some still went out to gather.

They couldn't stop the "hustle." This angered the Lord because He knew—even if they didn't—that man was made for rest. When we refuse to rest, we are essentially saying, "God, I don't trust You to provide while I'm still."

3. Disobedience as a Worship-Killer

Both of these moments hindered their worship.

• You can't worship with a heart full of greed (the maggots).

• You can't worship with a heart that won't rest (the Sabbath-breakers).

God doesn't want an empty offering; He wants an obedient heart. True worship happens when we trust Him enough to follow His instructions, knowing that His boundaries are there for our protection and our peace.

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Reflective Questions:

1. The Manna Test: Is there an area of your life where you are "hoarding" (fearfully holding onto something) instead of trusting God for daily provision?

2. The Sabbath Test: Are you finding it hard to "stop the gather" and truly rest in Him? How might your busyness be hindering your worship?

Recap Exodus 13-15: Trust the Mapmaker: Your Route Is Not Random

Sometimes we look at our lives and wonder why we aren't at our destination yet. We see a "short cut," but God takes us the long way. If you’ve ever felt like you’re taking a detour, the story of the Exodus offers a powerful perspective on how God orders our steps.

1. The Wisdom of the Detour

In Exodus 13:17-18, we see something fascinating. God didn't lead the Israelites through the land of the Philistines, even though that was the shorter route. Why? Because He knew they weren't ready for war.

God knows your threshold. He won't lead you into a battle you aren't prepared for. He led them "round about" through the way of the wilderness. The "long way" isn't a wrong way if God is the one leading.

2. The Setup for Success

In Exodus 14:1-2, God gives very specific instructions on where to camp. To the naked eye, it looked like they were trapped between the sea and the mountains. But God always has a plan for His people to survive—and even thrive—in tight spots.

As the saying goes, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Psalm 37:23). When God orders your steps, He is also ordering your protection. He wasn't leading them into a trap; He was leading them into a miracle.

3. Led by Unfailing Love

Finally, in Exodus 15:13, the people sing a song of praise:

"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling."

God doesn't lead us like a cold general barking orders. He leads us with unfailing love. He is a Shepherd who guides His redeemed people with a personal touch. He isn't just getting you to a place; He is walking with you to that place.

The Takeaway

If you feel like you are in the "wilderness" today, or if you feel "hemmed in" by your circumstances, take heart.

• God knows the shortcuts you shouldn't take.

• God knows the enemies you aren't ready to face.

• God has a plan for your survival even when you feel trapped.

Trust the Mapmaker. He hasn't lost His way, and He won't let you lose yours.

Reflective Questions:

1. The "Short Cut" vs. The "God Route": Looking back at a time when you felt "delayed" or "detoured," can you now see how God was actually protecting you from a battle you weren't ready for?

2. Confidence in the Hemmed-In Places: If you feel trapped or "hemmed in" by your current circumstances (just like Israel at the Red Sea), how does knowing that God specifically ordered your steps change your perspective on your survival?

Recap Exodus 10-11: Light Amidst Darkness; Peace Amidst Wailings

In Exodus, we see a striking phenomenon that feels more relevant today than ever. When the ninth plague hit, a darkness so thick it could be "felt" descended upon Egypt. According to Exodus 10:23, the darkness was so absolute that no one moved for three days. Yet, in the very same country, the Bible tells us there was light in the dwellings of the Israelites.

1. Our Light is Not Dependent on the World’s Sun

The darkness of the world—the economic shifts, the cultural unrest, the fear—should not dictate the atmosphere of a believer's life. We aren't just surviving the dark; we are the places where the light still shines. In fact, the darker the world gets, the more brilliant and distinct our light should appear.

2. Peace in the Midst of the Wailing

The contrast deepened with the final plague. Exodus 11:6–7 describes a cry throughout Egypt unlike any heard before or since—a wailing over the loss of the firstborn. But among the Israelites? Not even a dog barked.

Think about that:

• The World: Utter anguish and loud lamentation.

• God's People: Divine silence and total tranquility.

3. Let the Contrast Strengthen Your Faith

The world’s wailing shouldn't disrupt your peace; it should actually strengthen it. When you see the world's systems failing or hear the "wails" of a society without hope, it serves as a sobering reminder of the protection and grace you stand under.

We aren't immune to the presence of the darkness, but we are exempt from its power. While the world is paralyzed by what it sees, we are moved by the One we serve.

Keep your lamps trimmed. The darker it gets, the closer we are to the Dawn.

Recap Exodus 6:30: When Your Weakness Meets His Might

We’ve all been there—standing on the edge of a calling, looking at our own hands, and thinking, "There’s no way."

In Exodus 6:30, Moses does exactly that. He looks at his own limitations and tells God, "Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?" Like Moses, I’ve found myself hesitating because I felt like a "clumsy speaker" or simply ill-equipped for the task at hand.

But here is the beautiful truth: When God calls you to a "Pharaoh-sized" task—whether it’s leading a ministry, breaking a generational cycle, or stepping into a new career—you aren't meant to work in your own power.

Why God Chooses the "Incapable"

If God only asked us to do things we were already good at, we’d never need Him. We’d get the credit, and our faith would stay small.

• It’s Not by Might: You aren't operating by your own strength, but by His Spirit.

• Strength in Weakness: It is specifically in our "faltering lips" and "clumsy steps" that His strength is made perfect.

• The Litmus Test: If you hear a nudge in your spirit to do something you feel 100% capable of doing on your own, it might just be your own ambition talking. God usually calls us to things greater than ourselves so that we have to depend on Him.

Reflection Question

What has God called you to do that feels completely outside your ability?

Stop looking at your "faltering lips" and start looking at the One who gave you breath. If He called you to it, He is responsible for getting you through it.

Recap Exodus 1 - The Midwives’ Defiance: A Study in Biblical Submission

Most Christians are familiar with Romans 13, which calls us to submit to governing authorities. But what happens when those authorities demand that we abandon our godly assignments or violate God’s Word?

The Midwives’ Defiance

In Exodus 1:16-20, Pharaoh gave a horrific decree: the Hebrew midwives were to kill all newborn boys. However, the midwives feared God more than they feared the King of Egypt. Because they chose to preserve life—directly opposing an ungodly command—God did not punish them. Instead, Exodus 1:20 tells us, "God dealt well with the midwives," and the people multiplied.

The Principle of Divine Priority

This isn't a "one-off" story; it is a biblical precedent. We see this echoed in the New Testament:

• Acts 5:29: When ordered to stop preaching the Gospel, Peter and the apostles boldly declared, "We must obey God rather than men."

Application: Submission vs. Compliance

This principle applies beyond government—it extends to our personal lives and marriages.

A Crucial Distinction: Submission to authority (whether a government or a husband) is never a license to sin.

If a wife is faced with an abusive situation or a demand to participate in sexual sin—such as a threesome—she is not biblically required to comply. In fact, her "godly assignment" is to honor the sanctity of the marriage bed and her own body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. To refuse an ungodly demand is not "rebellion"; it is higher obedience to the King of Kings.

Final Thought

Christians are called to be model citizens and partners, but we are not called to blind submission. When human authority opposes divine law, our primary allegiance must always remain with God.

Reflection Questions:

• Identifying the Line: In your own life, how do you distinguish between a "difficult" authority figure you are called to endure and an "ungodly" command you are required to resist?

• The Cost of Conviction: The Hebrew midwives risked their lives to save the Israelite children. What is one area where you feel God calling you to stand firm, even if it carries a social or personal cost?

• The "Fear of God" vs. "Fear of Man": Exodus 1 says the midwives thrived because they "feared God." How does focusing on God’s ultimate authority change the way you view the pressures of the world or the demands of others?

Recap Job:40-42 - Job's Encounter with God's Splendor

We often come to God with a stack of “whys,” hoping He will explain Himself. But the closing chapters of Job remind us that God’s wisdom and majesty stretch far beyond the limits of our logic.

The Incomparable Creator

When God describes Leviathan in Job 41, He isn’t offering a biology lecture. He is unveiling a creature so untamable, so fearsome, that no human can stand against it. The point becomes unmistakable in Job 41:33: “Nothing on earth is its equal—a creature without fear.”

If we cannot even subdue what God has made, how could we ever presume to interrogate the One who made it? The Creator is in a category all His own.

From Information to Encounter

Job’s turning point didn’t come from receiving explanations. It came from encountering God Himself. In the final chapter, Job’s confession reveals the shift:

The Confession:
“Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know” (Job 42:3).

The Transformation:
“My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you” (Job 42:5).

Job moved from secondhand knowledge to firsthand revelation—and that encounter changed everything.

Why It Matters Today

God is more majestic, more powerful, and more wonderful than anything Job—or any of us—could ever imagine. We need that same kind of encounter to pull our eyes away from our grievances and lift them toward His greatness. Before we question His involvement in our lives, we must first stand in awe of who He is.

He has no equal. His ways are “too wonderful” for our limited sight.

Reflection Questions

Perspective Shift:
Are you viewing God through the lens of your problems, or viewing your problems through the lens of His majesty?

The “Job” Moment:
Job moved from hearing about God to truly seeing Him. What would it look like for you to move from “knowing about” God to experiencing His presence in a real way this week?

Recap Job 38:1 - From Chicago to the DR: Why God Uses Whirlwinds

 

In Job 38:1, God finally answers Job—not with a whisper, but out of a whirlwind. It’s a reminder that while God often uses a "still, small voice," He is also capable of using a storm to get His message across.

I experienced my own "whirlwind" recently. Last year, on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, God woke me up in the middle of the night with a clear instruction: I needed to apologize to someone back home. I had let my "flesh" take the lead in a situation, and like Job, I had spent a lot of time justifying my own innocence.

But God wasn't letting me off the hook.

I felt a sting of sadness realizing that God had to take me all the way from Chicago to the DR just to get me to listen. As Job learned, God’s thoughts and ways are infinitely higher than ours. He loves us enough to pursue us across borders just to align our hearts with His. My goal now? To cultivate a heart posture that hears Him in Chicago, so He doesn’t have to send me to the Caribbean to get my attention.

What about you? Are you listening to the whisper, or do you need a whirlwind?