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The Lord spoke to Moses and said, "I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, "At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.'" (Exodus 16:11-12)
Yes, dear Friend, it is a Saturday edition of ConCafe; I took a day off yesterday from writing. Here today is another Bible Story You Should Know!
The title says it all. Amen. Go home. But the story logically continues. God set His people free from bonding in Egypt and then He begins a generational-long formation process of all who would be called God's people. Forty years. In what could have been a straight-shot journey of two or three years, God instead begins the formation process. It's like the old bumper sticker theology that read, "Under Construction: God's Not Finished With Me Yet." God was not finished with His people, much in the same way God has not finished with you and me.
The logical first step is for the people to know that God will provide. You would think that after all those plagues and the showdown with Pharaoh that His people would know; nope, they didn't. They were very child-like in their faith, and not the innocence of children that Jesus would later speak of; these are the "terrible twos" at their worst! It was the "Are we there yet?" and "What are we going to eat?" It was the latter that got God's attention, and God responded, "I have heard the complaining of the Israelites." and lays out His plan for feedings His people. The menu was simple but extravagant; fancy bread in the morning, and meat at night, quail to be exact. Yes, maybe a diet plan for some. Just two meals a day. Eat enough bread just to satisfy your hunger, then as much quail as you like. Protein and carbs. Okay, I'm not recommending that.
It went as God promised. The next verses in that chapter relate how in the mornings, the people found (v. 14) "When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground." This was their bread, a cracker-like fine bread that did satisfy their hunger in this bread from Heaven. In verse 31 the bread was described as "The house of Israel called it manna; it was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey." In the verse before 14, "In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp." This was the meat. God provided. The people ate and were not hungry.
Perhaps you have been there. I certainly have. Usually in the eleventh hour, just in the nick of time; when you think nothing is coming through or that no one cares; there's God. With the provision you lacked. God provides. I believe God works better with us when we have the childlike wonder and awe of asking and receiving with gratitude whatever God provides; not the whining, demanding, yelling attitude of some children. And the provision may be one scrambled egg and a piece of bread with organic peanut butter, the gracious grateful heart will call it a feast - the stubborn selfish heart will ask, "Is this it?" God provides. You should provide the applause and praise.
PRAYER: Thank You, Loving Father, for always providing just what we need. You have given me a new day of life, and You have shared with me the provisions I need. Some of us have full refrigerators and pantries. For that we are thankful. Some may need a little more, and so we pray, Lord, provide for them. And always remind us of our obligation to help be the answer to someone's prayer. In all things, and in my life, be glorified. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a blessing to someone today!
Eradio Valverde
A reminder that space is still available for our tour to Greece. The more I read about Paul and all he did, I get more excited about it. And if you have questions about this trip, there will be a meeting on Monday, April 8th at 5 pm in the parlor of the office building. Mr. Michael Sprite will be with us. He's from Collette Vacations. No obligation, just come hear his presentation and ask him any and all questions you may have.
