21 July 2021
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 16:1-5,9-15, NRSV
In the second month after their miraculous escape from the Pharaoh and his army, the Israelites found themselves facing the harsh realities of desert life and particularly the reality of hunger. Their desperate hunger led them to complain against their leaders, Moses and Aaron. Such was their plight that they began to wish they had died in Egypt. Their recollections of sitting down to pans of meat and eating bread to their heart’s content has the ring of a “good old days” type recollection. Whilst they would have been fed sufficiently to ensure that they were able to complete the physical labour which was required of them, they were slaves and life was hard. Moses looked to God for help in this dire situation and God heard his plea and provided them daily with enough bread and meat to satisfy their hunger and to give them strength to continue their journey.
- Was it understandable that the Israelites complained about their plight?
- Have you ever felt challenged to trust in God’s provision?
Pray for those today who do not know where their next meal is coming from, and you may wish to offer some practical support as your own situation allows.
