This was my quiet time passage this morning – Exodus 16:9-16
“Moses instructed Aaron: ‘Tell the whole company of Israel: ‘Come near to God. He’s heard your complaints.’ ‘
When Aaron gave out the instructions to the whole company of Israel, they turned to face the wilderness. And there it was: the Glory of God visible in the Cloud.
God spoke to Moses, ‘I’ve listened to the complaints of the Israelites. Now tell them: ‘At dusk you will eat meat and at dawn you’ll eat your fill of bread; and you’ll realize that I am God, YOUR God.’ ‘
That evening quail flew in and covered the camp and in the morning there was a layer of dew all over the camp. when the layer of dew had lifted, there on the wilderness ground was a fine flaky something, fine as frost on the ground. The Israelites took one look and said to one another, ‘man-hu’ (what is it?). They had no idea what it was.
So Moses told them, ‘It’s the bread God has given you to eat. And these are God’s instructions: ‘Gather enough for each person, about two quarts per person; gather enough for everyone in your tent.’ ”
There is so much that I can relate to in this story. The desert. The need for God’s provision. The need to trust when the desire to complain was so strong. But, again, it is not a story about what the Israelites needed to do, but what God WOULD do. All they had to do was trust, wait and enjoy watching God do exactly what He said He would do.
Moses told them to come near to God, because He had heard their complaints. They didn’t automatically look up. They turned to face the desert. And God showed up in a cloud. They couldn’t miss it. They saw His glory.
He told them that after He provided for them, they would realize that He was THEIR God. Personal, attentive to their needs, fully aware, loving and patient and true to His promises.
And then He did provide. And they didn’t get it. It didn’t look like what they expected. They didn’t recognize it for what it was. But there it was as He had promised – provision for their needs – they would each get their fill. He didn’t skimp on what He gave.
God, You know that we need your provision. Help me to trust and not complain. Help me to see your glory before I see the provision. Help me not to have preconceived ideas of what that provision should look like, but to recognize it when it comes as a beautiful gift from Your hand. Help me to wait and watch and take great joy in watching You do what You do so well. And You will get all the credit and praise!
