The message of Exodus 15 and 16 works its way into Jesus’ teaching and into the life of the church. A discussion of trust, obedience and contentment.

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Contentment: Lesson from Exodus 16

I. The lessons of the manna and the quail.

A.    Review: Multiple application of historical events.

1.     Immediate needs of the people.

2.     Prophetic fulfillment.

3.     Spiritual lesson.

B.    Need: Food and water are provided by God.

C.    Fulfillment: The lesson of the coming savior (John 6).

1.     Jesus: I am the bread that comes down from heaven.

2.     My blood is true drink.

(a)  Fulfills the sacrificial blood of offering.

(b)  His blood is life-giving by the cross (tree) Compare water at Marah.

D.    Spiritual lesson: God will provide what we need.

1.     He can be trusted with our daily needs.

2.     We ought to be confident and content in that.

II. The lesson of trust replays throughout Biblical history.

A.    The greed of the Israelites is a cautionary tale.

1.     It recreates the sin of the Garden of Eden.

(a)  Our first parents had what they needed.

(b)  They took what they wanted.

(c)  The wages of sin is death.

2.     Evidence of the same greed appears in Israel’s experience.

(a)  Tried to hoard the manna.

(b)  Took more of the quail than they needed.

(c)  The place was called “The Graves of the Greedy.”

B.    What does the lesson look like in the Gospels? (Luke 12.13-34)

1.     The admonition against covetousness (v. 13-15)

(a)  Covetousness takes many forms.

(b)  Abundance of possessions does not equal fulfilled life.

2.     The parable of the rich man. (v. 16-21)

3.     The instruction to the disciples regarding worry (v. 22-34)

4.     Don’t forget the Lord’s Prayer: Give us this day our daily bread.

C.    What does the lesson look like among the disciples? Contentment.

1.     Paul writes in Philippians 4.11-13.

2.     Again to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6.6-8.

III. Contentment is our application of the lessons of Exodus.

A.    The antidote for greed when it’s so easy to be tempted by.

1.     Abundant gratitude.

2.     Extravagant generosity.

B.    Contentment is the condition of the expectant heart.

1. Illus: giving gifts to children who bicker and complain results in taking away the gift.

2. Illus: a child who is responsible for a gift can be trusted with  more.