Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

What does it take for us to be satisfied with what we have?

rice in a bowl with sesame seeds (Bread of Life)
Photo by Mgg Vitchakorn on Unsplash; licensed under CC0.

August 4, 2024

First Reading
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Commentary on Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15



This text from Exodus begins what is known as the “Wilderness Wanderings” of the Israelites. Having just witnessed God’s saving power in their safe crossing of the Sea of Reeds, the people begin to complain about the less-than-ideal conditions of their current situation. This story is part of a larger collection of texts in which the Israelites “murmur” (read: “complain”) against Moses and/or Aaron for their plight and, therefore, complain against God. 

The pattern is established that when the going gets tough, the people grumble. This strand within the broader wilderness story portrays a common human characteristic of not being satisfied with what we have, a “grass is always greener” outlook on life. Rather than judging the Israelites for their ingratitude, this story offers us the opportunity to hold up the scriptural mirror to ourselves and ask how we often reflect the same disposition.

Exodus 16:1 informs the reader that we are now one month away from crossing the Sea of Reeds, and the Israelites have begun their long journey to the Promised Land. The Israelites immediately doubt Moses and Aaron. This behavior was also seen in Exodus 14 when the Israelites reached the Sea of Reeds and were trapped between the watery obstacle and Pharaoh’s army. While these people may seem ungrateful, we might be able to understand their doubting Moses and Aaron. The whole idea that Moses was going to secure their freedom from Pharaoh had seemed preposterous from the beginning. 

To this enslaved group, Moses was a stranger at best, or a product of Pharaoh’s household at worst. They had no reason to trust him, much less believe his story that God had called him to this very task of liberation. They had witnessed and suffered from many of the plagues orchestrated by Moses and God. They had walked across on dry land in the middle of the Sea of Reeds. All of it seemed surreal, so they were waiting for their “luck” to run out and this dream to end. For the Israelites, the enemy they knew (Pharaoh) was better than the unknown of their future. 

Despite their doubt, God responds to their need for food. The Lord tells Moses that each day the Lord will provide bread for the people (verse 4a); however, what the people receive is a strange substance that is like flour (described in verse 31 as being similar to coriander seed that tasted like honey-flavored wafers) from which they can make bread. Besides providing sustenance for the whiny people, the Lord has another motive for the gracious act: “In that way, I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not” (verse 4b). 

There are some rules for how the people are to collect the substance they will find each morning. They must gather only enough for one day’s food and shall not keep any leftovers. This is not only a curbing of possible greed but also a way of teaching the Israelites to trust the Lord and gain confidence in the Lord as one who can provide for them. 

This chapter of Exodus holds many possible avenues for reflection and exploration. The 15 verses of this week’s reading introduce several of these ideas. Our text, along with several others in the Torah, raises the issue of faith and trust in the Divine, our leaders, and ourselves. Members of faith communities in the 21st century are not immune to these doubts, even though we no longer see the world as the ancient Israelites saw it. Those who lived in a “pre-scientific” time had only one explanation for strange and awesome life experiences; they believed these were caused by supernatural beings (gods/God). 

Our knowledge of the world (for example, weather, illness) means we no longer blame these things on divine activities. In some ways, this makes faith and trust in God even harder to maintain. 

We have witnessed, and continue to witness, many examples of people in positions of leadership doing unethical things and not seeking the betterment of those who put them in that position of authority. Politicians have caused many people to always assume they are not trustworthy and prevent the inevitable disappointment. Religious leaders have also behaved in ways that have led to a loss of respect for clergy. 

With all the decisions we face in our fast-paced world, it is very easy to doubt ourselves, our choices, and our ability to do what is asked of us. In what ways do you struggle to have faith and trust? What would it take to trust and have faith in God, others, and yourself?

The Israelites’ complaining about their circumstances in the wilderness allows us to consider how we, too, are never happy with what we have. The Israelites cried out from their oppression for liberation, and God sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead them into a different future. Once they had what they wanted, it turned out that freedom was not what they had imagined. It involved more responsibility than they had anticipated. 

While they were enslaved in Egypt, their basic needs were provided for them. Even though they suffered under heavy work and threats to their children, they at least knew where they would get their next meal. In the wilderness, they were scared about the future and worried they could not make it alone. 

How often have we wanted something so much (and perhaps even prayed for it), only to get what we wanted and find out it was not all we had hoped it would be? How often do we say the words “If only I had … I would be content,” but we continue to add to that “if only” list? What does it take for us to be satisfied with what we have? Perhaps we could ask another question: “Do we ever get what we thought we wanted, only to say, ‘What is it?’”