Exodus 16:12 says: “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘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.’”

The word exodus means ‘a mass departure of people’. Some say the number could have been 2.5 million people (about the population of Brisbane). Others say 30,000 people passed through the Red Sea and were with Moses and Aaron. I’m not a scholar, but it was a big crowd… more than the whole extended family coming for Christmas dinner!

The Israelites were learning to live in freedom as God’s children. God’s mighty power has released them from bondage as slaves to the Egyptians. They have seen plagues, the pillar of fire, and God providing the life-saving way through the Red Sea. They have seen bitter water miraculously become good to drink when they were three days without water in the Desert of Shur. And here, in the Desert of Sin, after two and a half months in freedom, they’re thinking back to their slave days and making the massive statement, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!” From my experience as a mum, this sounds like a big ‘HANGRY’ group of people.

Amazingly, God has mercy and provides! His response is: “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.” Wow! Such grace! Meat for the evening meal and bread from heaven for each morning.

About 1500 years later, the gospel of John chapter 6 records a dialogue between Jesus and the crowd, whom Jesus miraculously, compassionately, and generously fed. Jesus listens, just as God had before. Jesus reveals there is one kind of food that spoils and another food that endures for eternity. He commands us to work for the later, the bread that lasts, which He will give us, with God’s seal of authority. And mercifully, Jesus makes it so clear: “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.” He tells us the ‘work’ we are to do so we can receive the living bread (His own life) that He is offering.

For the crowd listening to Jesus, their immediate response was to ask for a sign so they might believe. He knows they are not (yet) hearing His promise – that they would never go hungry and never thirst. Instead of believing He is the Son of God, they grumble, like their ancestors, and state their belief that He is only the son of Joseph.

For the Israelites, believing God looked like following God’s instructions for collecting bread, including special instructions for the Sabbath.

What does believing in the one God sent look like for you?

Is there a specific instruction Jesus has given that you need to obey?

Is there any situation or thinking where we need to remember who Jesus truly is in his fullness?

For me, as a mum, am I compassionately feeding others physically as well as for eternity? Even when they are hangry?

Let’s ask Holy Spirit to help us see Jesus and others more clearly this Christmas. Then we can respond with the same love and compassion of our Father in heaven..

Spend some time asking God for what you need today.

Spend the same time again with your eyes fixed on Jesus, praising Him for His provision, His power, and the freedom He has given you

Lord, thank You for the promises You have fulfilled through Jesus. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, remind us of Your mercy and compassion in our own lives. Help us to live in the overflow of joy, hope, and peace that You bring – and extend this hope to others today. Amen.

Bless you as you live today in the freedom and grace of God! You are His precious child and He loves to love you! Merry Christmas to you and your crowd!