Justin Houtz

Exodus 16, Luke 22

DateVersionReading Plan
March 7, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Exodus 16

Observation

Exod. 16:3 – The people grumbled against Moses and Aaron, telling them that would have rather have died by the hand of the Lord in Egypt when they sat by meat pots and ate bread to the full. “The people’s memory was short and their hearts ungrateful. If God were going to let them die, they would rather he had done so in Egypt. This discounted the actions of the LORD’S hand for them in the past as well as in the future (cp. 2Sm 24:13–14, 17).” (CSB Notes)

Exod. 16:4 – The LORD told Moses that He was about to rain bread on the people that they may gather a day’s portion in order to test them and whether they would walk in His law. This is the second mention of a test in Exodus, the first being at the waters of Marah.

Exod. 16:8 – Moses told the people that their grumbling was ultimately not against them but against the LORD.

Exod. 16:12 – The LORD told Moses to tell the people that they would eat meat at twilight and eat bread in the morning. God was both gracious in providing for His people despite their grumbling and precise in how this provision would take place.

Exod. 16:14-21 – The manna God provided was such that it would not be viable after one day. It is a wonder to consider how God knew exactly what to provide in order that He would be acknowledged as its source and that their need for Him would be refreshed every day.

Exod. 16:22-26 – Rather than giving full instruction of the LORD’s command in how manna was to be handled over the Sabbath, it came in stages. Moses first told them to bake what they will bake and boil what they would boil and then lay aside the rest until morning (the morning of the Sabbath). The people then did so and found that the manna did not stink and had no worms. Moses then told the people to eat it as on that day they would not find it in the field.

Exod. 16:27 – Despite the instruction that they would find nothing to gather on the seventh day, some people still went out and tried, demonstrating themselves to be persistent in disobedience and lack of faith.

Exod. 16:32-34 – Moses spoke on behalf of the LORD to the people and told them that an omer of the manna was to be put into a jar and placed before the testimony to be kept. “The testimony is a shortened form of ‘the ark of the testimony,’ the box that would later contain the Ten Commandments and would testify about the covenant the Lord had given Israel (25:16, 21; 26:33; 30:36; 31:18; Nm 17:1–10). The construction of the ark is described in Ex 37:1–9, so it was not built until after 16:33–34.” (CSB Notes)

Application

The LORD continued to show His faithfulness in providing for the Israelites in the wilderness, but they remained consistent in disbelief and disobedience. How often we too fail to acknowledge God’s hand in provision, blinded to His work being done to sustain us. Our Western individualism and consumerism only serves to fuel our unrighteous discontentment. May we then be confronted by this text, to have our eyes opened to His abundant supply, grateful for every good gift that comes from above.

Luke 22

Observation

Luke 22:1-2 – The chief priests and scribes were seeking to put Jesus to death near the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover. Having just read about the establishment of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover in Exod. 12-13, it is notable to see its connection here.

Luke 22:20 – Jesus presented the cup that represented His blood after they had eaten.

Luke 22:28–30 – “It was gracious of the Lord to commend the disciples for having continued with Him in His trials. They had just been quarreling among themselves. Very soon they would all forsake Him and flee. And yet He knew that in their hearts, they loved Him and had endured reproach for His name’s sake.” (BBC)

Luke 22:28 – The disciples “brought forth two swords, implying that these would surely be enough for any problems that lay ahead. The Lord Jesus ended the conversation by saying ‘It is enough.’ They apparently thought that they could foil the attempt of His enemies to slay Him by using the swords. This was the farthest thought from His mind!” (BBC)

Application

Jesus speaking of how the apostles stayed with Him in His trials is a helpful reminder for the saints to do likewise for the sake of Christ, fully knowledgable of the kingdom reward that awaits. We are assured trials of various kinds and varying degrees of severity, but our ultimate treasure does not rest with the ease and comforts of this life. From an eternal, redemptive perspective, we can proceed through the most difficult of circumstances, knowing that these are not without purpose and that all will be made new on the Day of Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are the bountiful Source of all life and provision. In You is all that we need and what grace did You pour out in sending of Your Son, that by His sacrifice we may spend all our days in praise and gratitude of You. How wonderful will be the Day of Your return, when every son and daughter whom You have called will be gathered in celebration to the wedding supper of the Lamb.

Resources