Read Exodus 16 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs for this chapter:
15:27-16:3 {s} Israel complained of no bread
16:4-10 {p} YHVH answered that He will provide bread from heaven
16:11-27 {s} YHVH provides manna/ Sabbath rest commandment
16:28-36 {p} The Sabbath rest is YHVH’s commandment/ memorial of manna
The last Strong Theme in Exodus was in the last chapter,
15:1-19 {sx18+p} Strong Theme: Song of Moses
The next Strong Theme runs into this chapter:
15:20-21 {s} Dance of Miriam: Sing to YHVH, for He has triumphed gloriously!
15:22-26 {s} Israel complained of no water / waters of Marah (bitterness) made sweet
15:27-16:3 {s} Israel complained of no bread
16:4-10 {p} YHVH answered that He will provide bread from heaven
It is obvious that the Dance of Miriam is a matching theme with the Song of Moses, the last Strong Theme. Miriam even repeats Moses’ praise word for word! But then what sense does it make to separate Miriam’s dance from Moses’ Song, and put it in with the next paragraphs which seem to have nothing to do with it?
I asked the Father: “Why? I know You have a reason, Father, for dividing this section up the way You have, and separating Miriam’s Dance from Moses’ Song, but what is the reason? Because it is beyond human understanding to know it.”
And this was His answer:
Exodus 15:1-19 {sx18+p} Strong theme: Song of Moses, and praise for what YHVH has done
Exodus 15:20-16:10 {sx3+p} Strong theme: Dance of Miriam, and complaints for what YHVH has not done (yet)
Why This Matters: The Scripture is teaching us that YHVH acts in our best interest. When He acts, praise is the natural response. But, it can be human nature to complain on the front side of problems, before asking for help, or before seeing what YHVH will do. The Strong Theme is teaching us that we will have a reason to praise when He acts … so let’s restrain our negative mouth!
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Sabbath, The First Teacher of the Gospel – Christine Miller
Exodus 16:11-36, And the seal of the Spirit on the Sabbath – Christine Miller
Sabbath Index of Studies – Christine Miller
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