Texts: Exodus 15:22–16:36, 17:1–7, 18:1–27; Genesis 3:1–6; 1 Corinthians 10:4, 11

If the current state of the world–or the boredom of long, hot summer days–has you reaching for a bag of chips and bowl of ice cream, congratulations! You’re engaging in the long-standing tradition of emotional eating.

A study published earlier this year out of the University of New South Wales, Sydney states that one’s frequency of indulging in comfort foods is dictated by one’s desire to manage negative affect, alleviate boredom, and even enhance cognitive competence.

This method of self-soothing kicked into gear during the Global Trade Era (1400s–1800s) when sweets were made much more easily accessible. Researcher Ken Albala found that during this period of history, the consumption of such rich foods transitioned from communal to individualized, and individuals began writing in their diaries of their secret desires for personal indulgences (“Food in Early Modern Europe”).

Of course, it seems plausible that eating our feelings stems back even further, as it’s been well-documented that throughout human history, imbibing alcohol and gorging in feasts has been a natural part of communal celebrations.

Even the ancient Israelites engaged in comfort eating, as revealed in Exodus 16:2–3. Weary from their long wanderings in the desert (following a stressful escape from the Egyptian army), the Israelites yearned for the bountiful, flavorful foods of Egypt.

In response, God provided the Israelites with quail and manna (Exodus 16:1–36). But soon they tired of the manna (imagine eating the same thing every day for years!) and grumbled again, remembering the delicious foods they ate in their captivity (Numbers 11:4–25).

Unfortunately, the Israelites were forgetting the importance of the manna, which, like the water made sweet at Marah and that which poured forth from the rock at Horeb, was a symbol of God’s provision and the Savior to come (John 4:10–15; John 6:35, 51; 1 Corinthians 10:4).

God not only oversaw their physical wellbeing and their spiritual sustenance, but also provided a way to care for their mental health with mediators (Exodus 18:1–27).

God always provided, and each provision pointed back to Jesus Christ.

God’s people lost sight of the Lord by turning inward and listening to temptation.

And the temptations that faced them face us in abundance today. But, we have the benefit of hindsight. Their forgetfulness and rebellious behaviors were recorded as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come (1 Corinthians 10:11). And, we have the guidance of the Holy Spirit!

God never stops providing. We just have to keep our eyes open!

For Reflection

Sharing: How do you feel about the Israelites’ constant grumbling? If you were in their sandals, would you have done the same?

1. They were surrounded by signs of God’s presence and provision; their behavior is inexcusable
2. They were brought out of a culture in which they had lived for 400 years–God made allowances for that and still does today
3. Grumbling for water after going for three days without it was to be expected, but they went too far with the food
4. Could they help it? They were examples for future generations…
5. I’m glad I wasn’t there because I would have grumbled more than they did
6. Other

Applying: When and how should we draw the line between aiding and closing off our ears to those who complain about life?

~ Stefani Leeper

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Live, Love, & Serve Like Jesus This past weekend, the Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church, partnered with Caring Hands Worldwide, hosted 6 dentists, 8 hygienists, and 10 4th-year dental students (accompanied by 3 faculty) who provided free dental care for more than 180 patients. As dental staff worked on patients, members of the Moses Lake and Ritzville Seventh-day Adventist churches volunteered by recording vitals, offering massages and hair cuts, providing health screenings, preparing meals, and praying for patients waiting to be seen. The motto, boldly printed on the volunteers’ bright blue shirts, proclaimed “LIVE, LOVE & SERVE LIKE JESUS.” The motto reflects the desire of the Moses Lake and Ritzville congregations to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in spreading the gospel by living, loving, and serving like the early Christians described in the Book of Acts. And while offering free dental care, massages, hair cuts and health screenings cannot solve all of life’s problems, volunteers drew encouragement and inspiration from Acts 3:1-10. This passage tells the story of Peter’s interaction with a lame beggar asking for alms at the temple gate. Peter offers something far better than coins, something longer-lasting (Acts 3:6). “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And the beggar joyously walked and jumped, all the while praising God and bearing his testimony, witnessing to others. The beggar didn’t get what he asked for. But Peter saw that what the man needed was something deeper and life-changing: the healing that comes through Jesus. Where in our lives are we being called to minister like Peter? To witness like the lame man made whole? Stefani Leeper | Content Coordinator Image credit: Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church