After leaving the lovely restful spot at Elim, the Israelites came to the wilderness of Sin. Although they had experienced the Lord’s wondrous deliverance out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, and had seen His provision for them at the bitter waters of Marah, they had not learned to depend upon Him for everything. They had brought their dough with them out of Egypt, and no doubt some other food, and perhaps they had been eating it up to this time. Now it was finished, and what could they do? They should have turned to the Lord in faith, for He had always met their need in the past and was worthy of their complete confidence, but they murmured instead.
Only God Can Provide
God always tests those who profess His name, and brings His own to the point where they discover that everything here must pass away. The sooner we learn this the better, for then we learn, or should learn, to only look to the Lord. It is so natural for us to depend on others that it is not a pleasant experience, at first, when we find ourselves entirely cast upon the Lord. It is especially hard for the young folks, for the things of this Egypt-world look quite attractive and permanent to them. It is a keen disappointment when they begin to discover that this world is really a wilderness for the Christian. It is, however, a happy experience when we learn at the same time that God is “for us,” able and ready to meet every need.
God’s Better Things
But why did the Lord take His people out of Egypt and away from all the food which they enjoyed there? Did He want them to be hungry and miserable? Not at all! But He had something far better for them than all the food and treasures of Egypt. True there were some wonderful things in Egypt, but the Israelites were slaves there. The Lord had set them free and delivered them by His mighty power, and all the treasures of Egypt were worth less than what the bountiful hand of God planned to give them. They were His people and He wanted them for Himself, that He might dwell among them. He was bringing them to Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, and He must wean them from Egypt, slowly but surely. The food of Egypt was entirely different from that of Canaan and it could not be mixed. The onions and garlic of Egypt would not mix with the luscious grapes of Canaan, and so we find that the pleasures of this world — will not mix with our heavenly joys. The “flesh pots” which satisfy the man of the world, are very different from the “manna” which nourishes and satisfies the new life of the Christian.
Turning Back
But the Israelites murmured. Sadly, many of them did not have real faith and they found it a hard path. The Christian’s path is one of faith, and although the unbeliever can start in it outwardly, he can never continue in it. Perhaps in a time of revival, or under pressure, he may start out and be carried along by others, but he will long after the world and want to go back to it. Eventually he will actually go back (2 Peter 2:20-2220For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:20‑22)). A true child of God, on the other hand, is often tried by the hardships of the way, but he finds his resource in God, and rejoices in the provision God makes for him day by day.
Further Meditation
1. Why did the Israelites complain?
2. Can you list all the times the children of Israel complained during their wilderness journey?
3. From Egypt to Canaan by J. Ritchie provides excellent and simple teaching from each of the stops the children of Israel made on their wilderness journey.