Text: Exodus 16:2-4, 10-11
> *2* In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
> *3* … “You have brought us out into this desert to starve us to death.”
> *4* Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you…”
> *10* …they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.
> *11* The LORD said, “I have heard the grumbling… At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.”
INTRODUCTION
Israel had just seen 10 plagues and the Red Sea parted. But now in the desert, no food, no water. This is what we call HARD TIME.
Hard time makes even delivered people to grumble. But grumbling does not stop God from making a way.
From this passage, we see three (3) truths about how God makes a way:
1. GOD HEARS YOU IN THE HARD TIME – v2-3, 11
_”I have heard the grumbling…”_
They were complaining against Moses, but God said I have heard.
Your sigh, your tears, your prayer in Warri, in your room – God has heard it. Your hard time is not silent in heaven.
He did not rebuke them and leave them to die. He responded with provision.
2. GOD SHOWS HIS GLORY IN THE HARD TIME – v10
”…there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.”
Notice: They looked TOWARD THE DESERT and saw His glory.
God doesn’t show His glory only in good times. The desert is where His glory appears.
If you only look at your lack, you will see frustration. If you look toward God in the desert, you will see His glory.
*God’s way is not always removal of the desert, but revelation of His glory in the desert.*
3. GOD MAKES A COMPLETE WAY IN THE HARD TIME – v4, 11
How did He make a way?
a) A Supernatural Way – v4 – “I will rain down bread from heaven”
Man cannot rain bread. God will give you what no man can give you. Your job, connection, education may fail, but heaven will not fail.
b) A Daily Way – v4 – “…gather enough for that day”
God didn’t give them one year supply. He gave daily.
Don’t worry about next year. Today’s manna is enough for today. God will come again tomorrow.
c) A Full Way – v11 – “meat at twilight… bread in the morning”
He gave meat in the evening and bread in the morning. Morning and night covered. God does not do half provision.
CONCLUSION – v11b
”Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.”
The purpose of hard time is not to kill you, but to make you KNOW God deeper as Jehovah Jireh – The Provider.
Your desert is your university where God teaches you who He is.
*ALTAR CALL DECLARATION:*
Let everyone say: My hard time will not kill me. God has heard me. His glory will appear, and He will make a way for me!
The Rev Rufus Segun Timothy is of Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Edo-Delta, Ikpoba Hill Circuit.Telephone: ++234 906 075 1937
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