To recap the story, as it relates to our redemption:

On Nisan fourteen the Passover Lambs were slain and the blood put on the doorposts, prefiguring Yeshua’s crucifixion on that date.

On the first day of Unleavened Breads, Israel traveled from the world’s Treasure City (Rameses) to a Temporary Dwellingplace (Sukkot) where they could begin to mature in God’s way. Then they traveled to “Away from Them” (Etham). Next they came to the Mouth of Freedom (Pi-hachirot), on the date that Yeshua would be freed from the grave. After three days, the Pharaoh’s armies caught up with them. On the seventh and last day of Unleavened Bread, they passed through the split Red Sea.

(V.22) “Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea”: once we come to the place of faith, we have the Torah to lead us on. Israel went from the Sea to the Wilderness of Shur / Vision, the name implying that there the people could be close to God.

After three days travel, they found no water. Then they came to a place of bitter water, so it was called Marah / Bitterness. (This is the root of the name Miriam / Mary.) The people therefore complained to Moses.

Even after witnessing such miracles as God had just performed for them, they had trouble believing that God would provide for their mundane needs, such as water and food. Like our society that trusts in money instead of God.

(Psalm 52:7) “Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and was strong in his evil desire.”

As water represents the Word of God, this is seen to mean that after neglecting Torah for three days, the people lost their vision and complained about having left the world’s Treasure City. For this reason the prophets established the Second and Fifth Days of the Sabbath (Monday and Thursday), in addition to the weekly Sabbath, as days for Bible reading – so that three days would never elapse without Bible reading.

When we neglect Bible reading, it can become as a bitter chore. But God can make it a delight for us. Upon purifying the water for them, God said that He was their healer.

(V.26) “I, Yahweh, am your healer” – Ani Yahweh Roph-echa.

Some other titles combined with the Name Yahweh are:

(Isaiah 43:1) Yahweh Bora-acha – Yahweh our creator

(Jeremiah 23:6) Yahweh Tzidkenu – Yahweh our righteousness

(Exodus 17:15) Yahweh Nissi – Yahweh our Banner

(Genesis 22:14) Yahweh Yireh – Yahweh will see to it (our provider);

“In the Mount of Yahweh it will be provided”

(Judges 6:24) Yahweh Shalom – Yahweh our Peace

Because the lack of Torah study had caused a disaster, God gave the people mishpatim / judgments (the first category – moral and ethical laws) and hukim / statutes (the third category – commandments bonding God and man, having no obvious reasons). As we have seen to be typical, edut / ordinances (the second category – rituals and festivals showing spiritual truths) is implied: Sabbath observance was enjoined.

God gave these commandments because of sin: even His chosen people were failing to live by a view of Him. (Galatians 3:19) Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made.

This was the first of ten tests that God would give His people. As soon as the people accepted their place, they were brought to the place of abundant sweet water. Bible study becomes so abundant with sweets when we accept our place in it.

(V.16:1) One month after their departure from the world’s Treasure City, on Iyyar 15, they came to the Wilderness of Sin (pronounced “seen”). This date would later become “Second Passover” (for those unable to partake of the first). [For us, this is next Shabbat.]

Here the people all complained about the lack of bread. God said that He would give them “bread from heaven”, but the people called it “manna / what’s this stuff”. Now God’s people would be taught to trust Him for their needs day-by-day, and to trust Him for provision for Sabbath without working on that day.

I heard from a Christian psychologist that one of men’s worst nightmares, though not usually spoken of, is about being unable to provide for their families. Certainly we men are to work for our families’ keep. But the problem, of which we are here concerned, is a lack of faith. The God who created us, and redeemed us, has promised to provide for us, and He tests us until we learn faith.

(V.20) “But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul”. Some still did not trust Yahweh, and violated Torah, saving some in case He did not provide for the next day. We do not ultimately gain by violating Torah. Our work only justifies that which God supplies to us if we work according to Torah principles. This is a concept that promotes honesty and integrity and responsibility.

We are taught that the Sabbath Day is not a day for “gathering bread”: it is not a day for working to earn our keep. (V.22) “On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread”, showing that we are to prepare for the Sabbath. Those who do not prepare ahead for the Sabbath, do not keep it holy – a day set aside for worship, because they have to do the work that was not prepared ahead.

Some think that they should be able to just take from others’ efforts and live at ease. Many work to be rich. But these are both contrary to the Biblical pattern. It is not wrong to employ others, and it is no sin to be rich; but seeking ease or riches brings out many ungodly traits.

“But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness” – 1 Timothy 6:9-11.

“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” - 1 Timothy 6:17-18.

Isaiah quotes Yahweh:

“They will not hunger or thirst, nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; for He who has compassion on them will lead them and will guide them to springs of water” – Isaiah 49:10.

The Psalmist said:

“The righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying, ‘Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and was strong in his evil desire’ ” – Psalm 52:6-7.

Paul said:

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:11-13.

Readings:

Reader 1*  Amen. ²² Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. ²³ When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah. ²⁴ So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" ²⁵ Then he cried out to Yahweh, and Yahweh showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them. ²⁶ And He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of Yahweh your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, Yahweh, am your healer."

Reader 2*  Amen. ²⁷ Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters. ^16:1 Then they set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt.

Reader 3*  Amen. ² The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. ³ The sons of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by Yahweh's hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." ⁴ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. ⁵ "On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily."

Reader 4*  Amen. ⁶ So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, "At evening you will know that Yahweh has brought you out of the land of Egypt; ⁷ and in the morning you will see the glory of Yahweh, for He hears your grumblings against Yahweh; and what are we, that you grumble against us?" ⁸ Moses said, "This will happen when Yahweh gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for Yahweh hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against Yahweh." ⁹ Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, 'Come near before Yahweh, for He has heard your grumblings.'"

Reader 5*  Amen. ¹⁰ It came about as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of Yahweh appeared in the cloud. ¹¹ And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ¹² "I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God.'" ¹³ So it came about at evening that the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.

Reader 6*  Amen. ¹⁴ When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground. ¹⁵ When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread which Yahweh has given you to eat. ¹⁶ "This is what Yahweh has commanded, 'Gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.'" ¹⁷ The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. ¹⁸ When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.

Reader 7*  Amen. ¹⁹ Moses said to them, "Let no man leave any of it until morning." ²⁰ But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them. ²¹ They gathered it morning by morning, every man as much as he should eat; but when the sun grew hot, it would melt. ²² Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, ²³ then he said to them, "This is what Yahweh meant: Tomorrow is a Sabbath observance, a holy Sabbath to Yahweh. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning." ²⁴ So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm in it.

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who in giving us Yeshua, the Living Torah, has planted everlasting life in our midst.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the Torah."

______________________

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who selected good prophets, delighting in their words which were spoken truthfully.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who chose the Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel,

and the prophets of truth and righteousness."

Isaiah 49:8-14

Reader 8*  Amen. ⁸ Thus says Yahweh, "In a favorable time I have answered you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you; and I will keep you and give you for a covenant of the people, to restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages; ⁹ saying to those who are bound, 'Go forth,' to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' Along the roads they will feed, and their pasture will be on all bare heights. ¹⁰ "They will not hunger or thirst, nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; for He who has compassion on them will lead them and will guide them to springs of water. ¹¹ "I will make all My mountains a road, and My highways will be raised up. ¹² "Behold, these will come from afar; and lo, these will come from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim." ¹³ Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For Yahweh has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted. ¹⁴ But Zion said, "Yahweh has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me."

Psalm 52    (To be sung.)   For the choir director. A Maskil of David,

            when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said to him, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech."

¹ Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endures all day long. ² Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. ³ You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking what is right. Selah. ⁴ You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. ⁵ But God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah. ⁶ The righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying, ⁷ "Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and was strong in his evil desire." ⁸ But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. ⁹ I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, and I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.

Philippians 4:4-23

Reader 9*  Amen. ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua. ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. ⁹ The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Reader 10*  Amen. ¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. ¹⁵ You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; ¹⁶ for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.

Reader 11*  Amen. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. ¹⁸ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Messiah Yeshua. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. ²¹ Greet every saint in Messiah Yeshua. The brethren who are with me greet you. ²² All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. ²³ The grace of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with your spirit.

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Rock of Ages, righteous throughout all generations.

You are the faithful God, promising and then performing, speaking and then fulfilling,

for all Your words are true and righteous.

Faithful are You, Yahweh our God, and faithful are Your words,

for no word of Yours shall remain unfulfilled;

You are a faithful and merciful God and King.

Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, Who are faithful in fulfilling all Your words."