The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 16:4-5,
"I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites began to grumble about being hungry in the desert. The Lord spoke to Moses and told him he would rain down manna for them to eat in the mornings, as well as quail in the evening. The Lord told Moses that the Israelites were only to gather enough manna for the day (except the 6th day when they were to gather enough for both the sixth and seventh day of the week to observe the Sabbath.)
They were told not to gather more than they could eat for the day. When some kept it to the next day (except the seventh day) it became maggot infested and stinky. Why did the Lord not allow the Israelites to gather more than they could eat for just that day? Why not let them store up extra?
My thought is that to leave on the ground whatever they could not eat that day, but wait for the provision from the Lord for the next day, it would demonstrate their need to trust in him to provide for their daily needs every day. I am reminded of Jesus' words in his sermon on the mount, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:25-27.
Jesus went on to say, "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Verses 31-34
"I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites began to grumble about being hungry in the desert. The Lord spoke to Moses and told him he would rain down manna for them to eat in the mornings, as well as quail in the evening. The Lord told Moses that the Israelites were only to gather enough manna for the day (except the 6th day when they were to gather enough for both the sixth and seventh day of the week to observe the Sabbath.)
They were told not to gather more than they could eat for the day. When some kept it to the next day (except the seventh day) it became maggot infested and stinky. Why did the Lord not allow the Israelites to gather more than they could eat for just that day? Why not let them store up extra?
My thought is that to leave on the ground whatever they could not eat that day, but wait for the provision from the Lord for the next day, it would demonstrate their need to trust in him to provide for their daily needs every day. I am reminded of Jesus' words in his sermon on the mount, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:25-27.
Jesus went on to say, "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Verses 31-34
Anxiety demonstrates a lack of faith and trust in the Lord, that somehow he is incapable or unwilling to meet our basic needs. Trusting in the Lord's provision communicates to him and others our steadfast confidence and trust him.
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!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
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!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
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