Hi dear
How was yesterday’s praise-volution? I faltered a time or two; but our God certainly brought me around. If you could not fully get the praises up and happening, consider reflecting on today’s Holy Nougat
“That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew.” Exodus 16:13 NLT
The Children of Israel had been rescued from Egypt, but it seems that they had not actually left Egypt behind them. At the first sign of trouble they were ready to rebel against Moses and God and return to Egypt. It took a miraculous flock of quail and some heavy doses of nutritious dew to convince them that God would provide as promised.
When presented in this manner, we tend to think that the children of Israel were simply miserable, grumpy and skeptical of all God offered. Yet, when placed in the contexts of our own lives, we might not necessarily be as quick to judge. As we reflect on our responses to this season, we might find that we also have been looking to Egypt (whatever and wherever our Egypt is) and subsequently spent the time reflecting on back in the day.
But in our reflections, have we stopped to see whether we were being exploited or not; whether we were experiencing God’s presence and power to bring us into fullness of life? The good news is, God loves us so much that even when/if we complain, there is provision for us. We may have missed the opportunity to see how God provides under normal circumstances.
Let’s compare the manna moment with the feeding of the multitude in the Gospels. I agree, the multitude was a tad bit smaller than the ‘nation of Israel’ moving to wherever God was taking them. And they had not escaped from enslavement – they were living under colonial rule. But the real difference between them was their focus. The multitude was listening and perhaps even seeking encouragement and transformation for their circumstances; the children of Israel had limited personal experiences of God. The multitude were seeking God through Jesus; the children of Israel didn’t fully understand God’s place in their situation.
And yet, God‘s provision was available for all. The sudden appearance of quail, enough to feed a nation, was as much a specialized miracle as loaf multiplication for 5000+ men, along with women and children. Same God. Different manifestation. Same act of provision. Different attitude to God.
It’s interesting to note that the quail just turned up that evening in anticipation of the next day’s needs. Could it be that God’s provision for us in this season is already here, in anticipation of our time of lack … whatever the lack may be?
Perhaps it’s time for us to praise our way to breakthrough; believing that God who provides quail and manna for the grumbling; and fish and bread for the hungry, is the very same God Who will meet us at the point of our needs right now. In Christ’s love and grace . . .
