ESOCS Devotional 12 March 2023
TEXT: EXODUS 16:2-15
MEMORY VERSE: “Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or not.” Exodus 16:4 KJV
As the Israelites left Egypt, we expect them to be overjoyed and happy because their prayers for deliverance were finally answered, but instead we find an ungrateful and irreverent nation. How often we grumble between Egypt and the Promised Land
What God promised was bread or manna and meat, in this case, quail. God promised enough food for each day as long as they went out and gathered it for themselves. On the sixth day there would be enough for two days, which meant they didn’t have to work on the Sabbath. In spite of their grumbling, the Lord provided. God gave them just what they needed.
We human beings are never satisfied. We continually want more than we already have. If there is too much rain, we complain. If there isn’t enough rain, we complain. And if we don’t get what we want we believe God doesn’t care about us. When we complain we are saying, “Why me” or “Life isn’t fair,” or “Where is God when I need God?” This story illustrates that God does care. God has provided for us in the past and will continue to provide for us in the future.
The manna that God gives us is more than just food. It is comfort, blessings, ideas, relationships, hope, peace and love. When we complain, we are blinded to the things God provides because we are so focused on the present moment. We forget what God has done for us in the past. Here are the Israelites, complaining to Moses about food when they were recently liberated from the Egyptians and escaped by walking across the Red Sea. How’s that for gratitude?
It’s ugly when people complain to God that they don’t have enough. They have forgotten all God has done for them in the past. They have been given new and different resources but they are unwilling to accept them. Rather than live one day at a time, people live in desperation about the future.
- Is there a trace of ingratitude in you?
- El Shaddai, the sufficient one, thank you for your provisions, help me to appreciate you as I ought to, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Exodus 24:1-18; John 21:1-14; 2 Corinthians 4:1-11
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 12 March 2023
