Free group study handout
Exodus 16: Group Study Handout
How to use: read Exodus 16 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.
Overview
The children of Israel journey from Elim to the wilderness of Sin, where they murmur against Moses and Aaron, wishing for the meat and bread of Egypt (vv. 1-3). Yahweh promises Moses that He will rain bread from the sky, testing whether the people will follow His law (vv.
Key verse
“Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from the sky for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.”
Exodus 16:4 (WEB)
Outline
- Exodus 16:1–3 Israel's Complaints in the Wilderness
- Exodus 16:4–8 God's Promise of Provision
- Exodus 16:9–12 Moses Calls the People
- Exodus 16:13–21 Manna and Quail Provided
- Exodus 16:22–30 Instructions for the Sabbath
- Exodus 16:31–34 Significance of Manna
- Exodus 16:35–36 Sustained by Manna
Discussion questions
- In v6, what does Moses say the people will know in the evening?
- In v15, what question do the children of Israel ask when they see the small round thing?
- Moses' instruction in v19 not to leave manna until morning: what tension does this create for the people?
- In v28, Yahweh asks Moses about the people's refusal to keep his commandments: what does this imply about their obedience?
- When have you been tempted to complain like the Israelites in v3 about a difficult situation?
Go deeper
Passages that echo Exodus 16: Numbers 11, Matthew 4, Deuteronomy 8.
Before next time: read Exodus 17.