20th September 2026

Exodus 16 takes us into a difficult moment in Israel’s journey from slavery into the Promised Land. Having experienced God’s dramatic deliverance at the Red Sea, the Israelites found themselves in the wilderness without food. Their immediate circumstances caused them to forget God’s faithfulness and to grumble against Moses and Aaron (Exodus 16:2). It is easy to be critical of Israel, yet their story reflects something deeply familiar about the human heart. We can experience God’s grace and provision and still become anxious when the next challenge appears. Yesterday’s experience does not always seem sufficient for today’s uncertainty.

God’s response was remarkable. He did not abandon his people because of their complaining. Instead, as the header scripture shows, he provided bread from heaven. Every morning, a substance called manna appeared on the ground, sufficient for that day (v.4). This points us towards the heart of the gospel. God is not distant from humanity, waiting for us to become worthy of his presence. From eternity past, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have been in a loving communal relationship, and God’s gracious initiative is to meet us in our brokenness so we can share in that relationship. Israel’s provision in the wilderness was not earned by their faithfulness: it was an expression of God’s faithfulness. Likewise, God’s provision to us is not earned by anything we do but flows from his love and grace towards us.

Ultimately, God’s provision finds its fullest expression in Jesus Christ. Jesus identified himself with the bread that comes down from heaven (John 6:32-35). The manna sustained Israel physically and temporarily, but Christ sustains us spiritually and eternally. In giving himself for the life of the world, rising from the dead and ascending to his Father, he has provided all we need for sustaining real life. 

The manna also taught Israel to trust God one day at a time. They could not accumulate manna as a guarantee against tomorrow. In the same way, following Jesus calls us to depend upon God each day instead of letting worry and fear about the future control us. We might not know what tomorrow will bring but we know who holds tomorrow. The wilderness may feel like a place of scarcity, uncertainty and unanswered questions, yet God is present there. His grace does not disappear when circumstances become difficult. The God who provided for Israel continues to sustain us in Christ, through the Holy Spirit.

Today, rather than allowing anxiety or disappointment to define our perspective, we can pause and recognise God’s presence. We can be thankful for what he provides, trust that he is faithful, and accept each day as a gift of his grace.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church