Check out another great story of God, Moses and the Complainers:
The whole company of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron there in the wilderness. The Israelites said, "Why didn't God let us die in comfort in Egypt where we had lamb stew and all the bread we could eat? You've brought us out into this wilderness to starve us to death, the whole company of Israel!"
God said to Moses, "I'm going to rain bread down from the skies for you.
Moses and Aaron told the People of Israel, "This evening you will know that it is God who brought you out of Egypt; and in the morning you will see the Glory of God. Yes, he's listened to your complaints against him. You haven't been complaining against us, you know, but against God."
Moses said, "Since it will be God who gives you meat for your meal in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, it's God who will have listened to your complaints against him. Who are we in all this? You haven't been complaining to us—you've been complaining to 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.
15-16 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.'"
The People of Israel went to work and started gathering, some more, some less, but when they measured out what they had gathered, those who gathered more had no extra and those who gathered less weren't short—each person had gathered as much as was needed.
Moses said to them, "Don't leave any of it until morning."
But they didn't listen to Moses.
A few of the men kept back some of it until morning. It got wormy and smelled bad.
And Moses lost his temper with them.
Where are you in this story?
Are you Moses? Responsible, leader, long-suffering, eventually angry?
Are you the unappreicated provider, like God? Do you hear the grumbling, but continue to give?
Or are you the Israelites? Most of us are just like them. We complain. We receive anyway. We hoard. God still loves us.
But he does try to teach us. Let's let Exodus work on us to teach one of the lessons...sooner than later. God provides food for soul and body. And we don't have to snatch His gifts from His hands.
Grace & Peace,
Adam
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