Manna and faith - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 16:2-3,

"In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the Lord's hand
in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we
wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this
entire assembly to death."

This thirteenth chapter of Exodus, which includes the account of the
quail and manna, is all about faith. The faith of the Israelites. Here
we see them complaining of their hunger. Maybe it would have been
better to be kept enslaved and enjoy the food they had in Egypt?

From one perspective, it is quite astonishing. This very same people
watched the Lord miraculously annihilate one of the greatest military
machines on the planet: the Egyptian army on their behalf and now they
are griping that the Lord brought them out to the desert just to see
them die of starvation.

Could not he who parted the Red Sea, led his people through it as if
on dry ground, and then entirely destroyed the advancing enemy that
threatened them, the Egyptian army, provide some meals-on-wheels for
them? Clearly, this is a faith building exercise.

I note that it was not until they asked God for food that the Lord
sent it. Surely God knew they would need food and water while in the
desert, but apparently decided to wait for them to ask for it. Sending
it when they complained would make it clear where it came from.

The Israelite's complaint of having no food manifests the lack of
faith of this community. There would be many opportunities for
faith-building exercises for the nation while on pilgrimage through
the desert, and this is surely one of those events.

Of course, I ask myself, what difficulty, what trial is the Lord
utilizing in my life today to build the faith he desires to see in me?
What difficult circumstances am I finding myself in that I might
naturally attribute to some nefarious origin, really be from God to
build my faith? I recall what Paul said, "We know that in all things
God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers and sisters."

What I count as something bad or destructive in my life just may be
the very thing God is using to build and shape me into what he desires
for me.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

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Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com