Stroll through Scripture for October 5, 2025

Based on Exodus 16:1–18

Complain, complain, complain. That’s the first thing we hear the Israelites do when they leave Egypt. They complain.

They also have selective memories. They cry out that they had it soooo good back in Egypt. There was meat there.

They wine. They moan. They complain.

Here’s the reality of the human experience — whatever we are experiencing will never be enough. There will always be someone faster, someone taller, someone shorter, someone stronger, someone smarter, someone with more skill or talent. And we complain.

The grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Except when it isn’t — which is just about always.

Human beings complain. A lot.

Here the Israelites have been set free from 400 years of slavery, and they start to complain to Moses.

But when we look below the surface of the story, we see some deeper things. God hears the complaints. And responds — fulfilling the need. That’s a breath of fresh air frankly. It’s honest and this is an example of what healthy communication looks like. There’s no anonymous complaint that is abstract. Nope, the Israelites are direct with their complaint. They state what the problem is. And God listens and provides for them. And makes sure they have what they need.

In the New Testament, we’ll hear about bread being given again. In John 6, Jesus will talk about this…