Today’s Devotion
Topic: From Elim to Sin (Part 2)
Text: Exodus 16: 9- 20
9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for He has heard your grumbling.’” 10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud. 11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”
13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’”
17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. 19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” 20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. Amen
We are still at Sin, beloved. That is, the area between Elim and Sinai, where Israel is already complaining of having no food to eat. Yesterday we ended at the point where God told Moses that He would feed them, and where Moses cautioned them to know that their grumblings were not against man but God Himself.
To prove that He is faithful and more than able to meet our needs, Jehovah promised to (and actually went on to) supply them with meat and the food of Heaven, day and night. However, to prove that He is not a God of waste and certainly not the One who condones greed, He directed them to only take a measure that (plus or minus) was going to be supernaturally sufficient for each person. He instructed that no one should hoard or have left overs till the next day — His faithfulness is new every morning. However, the greed and stubbornness of man made some hoard the food and by morning, this heaven-rained food was smelling bad and full of maggots.
Beloved, watch how you complain against the Lord when times are hard and/or when your expectations are yet to be met. For this does not in anyway imply incompetence on the part of our God — All things are possible to Him. It may just be your test or an opportunity for the Lord to prove to you that He’s God.
Begin to praise Him in advance for all He’s about to do in your life. It will be miraculous; it will be beautiful and excellent. It will settle your heart, fill your soul and answer every question on your mind. His Word reminds us that the glory of the latter temple is greater than the former, which implies that “no eye has seen, nor ears heard, nor has the human mind conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor 2: 9)
Stop grumbling and comparing yourself with Egypt. You couldn’t have been at any better place than in Christ right now. All is well in Jesus name!
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