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2 The whole company of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron there in the wilderness. 3 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!" 4 God said to Moses, "I'm going to rain bread down from the skies for you. The people will go out and gather each day's ration. I'm going to test them to see if they'll live according to my Teaching or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they have gathered, it will turn out to be twice as much as their daily ration." 6 Moses and Aaron told the People of Israel, "This evening you will know that it is God who brought you out of Egypt; 7 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." 8 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!" 9 Moses instructed Aaron: "Tell the whole company of Israel: 'Come near to God. He's heard your complaints.'" 10 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. 11 God spoke to Moses, 12 "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.'" 13 That evening quail flew in and covered the camp and in the morning there was a layer of dew all over the camp. 14 When the layer of dew had lifted, there on the wilderness ground was a fine flaky something, fine as frost on the ground. 15 The Israelites took one look and said to one another, man-hu (What is it?). They had no idea what it was. (Exodus 16:2-15 The Message Bible Version)
I can't decide which church would be the tougher to pastor? First Jerusalem, or First Exodus? Right now my money is on First Exodus. The first verse gives it away. And so does the second, and the second part of the second verse! Wah Wah Wah! I guess I have to give them the mobility excuse, because after all, they were a church in formation, marching out of formation. I mean, God was forming a new people as they made their way towards freedom. Each step forward they took, their mind took them back a thousand miles in their memory. They missed the mulligan stew and the unlimited bread sticks! Unlimited. I'm guessing most of the Israelites were Methodists because we know the appetite and hunger cravings of said people. Food was very important! I'm reminded of our black brothers and sisters from our heritage as Methodists. There was only a limited number of camps open to them back in the day and one such camp was in Mississippi. Gulfside Assembly was the destination, a camp located in Waveland, MS. The years this camp met were the years when the places to eat along the way were few and far between. Honestly, most places would not serve our brothers and sisters and so in the days leading up to departure were very busy and lively days because those attending the camp in Mississippi had to meet beforehand to prepare meals to eat along the way. The number one menu item was fried chicken. As I sat in awe hearing the veterans of this day talk I felt the emotion they were feeling of taking care of themselves in awesome and memorable ways that served to help form their spiritual blessings from the camp in advance. It was a wonderful cooperative effort with many hands joining together to cut, season, prepare, and fry the chicken and all the sides that would go along for the ride. At certain spots along the way, the campers would stop and again, share the banquet they had prepared and brought with which to feed themselves.
I highly doubt there were grumblers of the First Exodus kind on this journey with gripes of "Why are we going through this and we should have stayed home!" Yes, those were probably the pre-teens and full aged teenagers. But, Pastor Moses had shared the complaints with the Main Chef in the Sky who told Moses that it was going to rain bread from on high. Moses simply said, "When you complain about this to me, you're really tugging on God's chain. God's going to give you bread like you've never had before and also some fine poultry to go with it!
And it was as God told Pastor Mo; in the mornings the dew would cover the land and when the dew lifted, there was a fine, flaky bread we call according to other versions, manna. In the evenings, God would provide quail which the First Exodus chefs knew just how to prepare. And that day a word perhaps new to you and me was said, "Man-hu?" which means or asks, "What is it?" God had provided for them in the way He has for us and even though we may not know the items provided, God had delivered as promised. As Moses said, if we could be aware of all God is doing, we will see the glory of God. This passage's lesson is this: We should be reminded that God hears our complaints and responds with grace and provision. Just as He provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, He provides for us. Let's learn to trust Him daily, seek His presence, and recognize His divine provision, even in the midst of uncertainty. God is faithful as should we be.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for Your daily provision, both physically and spiritually. Help us to trust in Your timing and to depend on Your Word, knowing that You are our source of strength and sustenance. May we, like the Israelites, recognize Your glory in the midst of our journey and seek Your presence in all circumstances; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Be a part of the Glory of God as you share what God has done for you.
Receive my blessing so joy and peace,
Eradio Valverde, Jr.
