Exodus: The Lord and His PilgrimsSample

Grace and law

Twice in this section we read of Israel grumbling (16:2, 7). This is a mixture of complaint and unbelief. It highlights both their absence of contentment with God’s way and their absence of trust that he will provide. Will they never learn? But then will we never learn? The God of the Red Sea is always the God of the Red Sea; the God of the Exodus is always the God of the Exodus; the God who finished the work of salvation is always the saving God. He never changes; never goes back on his word; never leaves his people; and never fails to keep his promises. 

It is for this unbelieving, grumbling people that he provides the healing tree (15:25) and the daily manna (16:4). John Newton wrote, ‘Daily on the manna feeding which he gives them when they pray’ (‘Glorious things of thee are spoken’) – actually it was when they grumbled! What patience! What forbearance! What love! But the best biblical word is what grace! It was sheer undeserved, unmerited kindness and goodness. 

At Marah (15:22–26) the Lord reveals his basic pattern of life to his people: his priority is grace. It always comes first. And grace is always grace – the outreach of unconditional mercy to the unworthy. But the people of grace are the people of law (15:26), that is to say that their gracious God now requires their obedience. Therefore he speaks (v. 26a), revealing first what he considers right (v. 26b) and secondly his law to be kept (v. 26c). Thirdly, he promises blessings consequent on obedience (v. 26d). Grace … law … blessing: that is the biblical sequence. 

In 16:1–25 this pattern is repeated. Once more the narrative leaves us in no doubt of Israel’s unworthiness; grace is therefore grace in its true reality, being love to the loveless and goodness to the undeserving. Grace provides regular food (v. 4), but the provision itself has a built-in test – it must be gathered freshly every day; nothing else will ‘work’ (v. 20). And, once more, obedience promotes blessing: keeping the Sabbath law is accompanied by undecaying manna (vv. 22–24).

Reflection

Were the quails (16:13) just a miracle of provision or also a miracle of providence? Commentators say Israel’s journey intersected with the annual migratory path of the quails. Either way the Creator God is on the side of his people.