October 9 | Exodus 16:19-31

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DAILY READING

Exodus 16:19-31

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REFLECTION

Which Is the Gift?

by Pr. Dave Mann

The Israelites had many challenges while they were wandering in the wilderness – hunger, thirst, snakes, enemies, etc. Nevertheless, with each difficulty, the Lord demonstrated that he was faithful. In fact, the hunger, served actually as a classroom for the Israelites to learn of the goodness of God.

To show his faithfulness, the Lord created a miraculous provision of manna. The instruction that came with the manna was that the people were to gather no more than one day’s worth of food each morning. One would think that the miracle of the manna itself would be sufficient to convince the people that they could trust the Lord for the manna to appear the next day as well. But, no, some of the people ignored the instructions and gathered more than one day’s worth, just in case. What became of the manna that was stored overnight? It became rancid, filled with maggots, and began to smell. They had just been in the “classroom” of trust in the Lord -- hunger followed by miraculous provision. Would they trust in their miracle-producing God for the next day?

To double down on his faithfulness, the Lord made an exception to the rule for gathering only one day’s worth each day. On the day of preparation, the people were to gather two days’ worth so that they would not go hungry on the Sabbath, and in this case, it did not spoil overnight.

Now, here we are over 3000 years later, reading this familiar passage and, no doubt, feeling rather smug that we would never distrust the Lord after such a clear demonstration of his faithfulness. Oh, wait! I think that this account is a mirror of our own human nature. We, too, often need to return to the remedial classroom of trusting God’s faithfulness.

The difficulties that we encounter regularly throughout life are simply opportunities to relearn that the Lord is truly Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord will provide!

Normally, we think about the manna, the thing that God brings into our lives in an unexpected way, as the gift. But it is actually the preceding difficulty, the pain, the challenge in life that is the gift. When we are forced to our knees, when we double up on our prayer time, we learn and relearn that we truly are dependent on God himself. That is when we are receiving the gift.

PRAYER

Jehovah-Jireh, you are my provision – more than the things that I think I need, and which you so graciously provide. My need is you, your presence, your faithfulness. Please help me remember this truth the next time that I grumble about something that I deem as lacking in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

October 8 | Exodus 16:1-18

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DAILY READING

Exodus 16:1-18

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REFLECTION

TRUST, the Secret Ingredient

by Elaine Pierce

"Everyone gathered just as much as they needed." (Exodus 16:18). Wouldn't it be wonderful if we lived our lives this way? Gathering 'just what we need' every day, no more, no less. The Israelites were obedient, and God provided just what they needed.

And that obedience lasted - get ready for it - less than a day. Some of the people hoarded the heaven-produced manna, and it turned to maggots in the morning. How quickly, how quickly we decide to take matters into our own hands. We don't trust God. We grumble and complain, just as the Israelites did. We rewrite history: "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.... (Exodus 16:3)." We conveniently 'forget' the enslaved part. The beatings. The forced labor.

Where in your life do you need to trust God? Are you struggling financially? Spiritually? With a broken relationship? With depression, or grief, or sadness that just won't seem to end? Looking for a new job? Whatever it is, God already knows about it, and he longs to meet you in that struggle. Perhaps just for today, ask him to give you what you need. And watch for ways that God is at work. Don't miss his still, small voice when you're looking for the Big Reveal.

And don't just take my word for it. Moses and Aaron gathered the people together, and they gave them instructions about how they would receive the food they needed every day. Read these words and take them to heart:

The Lord said to Moses, "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.'" (Ex. 16:11-12)

He hears you. He will supply your every need. Ask him today, and thanks be to God that he will hear, he will care, and he will provide.

PRAYER

Lord, so often I want what I want right now, and I fail to trust in your timing. Help me to come to you with every need, and to trust your goodness, your faithfulness, and your righteousness. Amen.

October 7 | Exodus 14:13-28

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DAILY READING

Exodus14:13-28

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REFLECTION

Deliverance

by Mary Alice McGinnis

Today’s reading begins with a profound exhortation from Moses. In the previous verses, we hear the Israelites say to Moses,

“Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Exodus 14:11-12

In response, Moses boldly and confidently exhorts the people:

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today...The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Stand firm and be still. What does that look like? Maybe it means not letting despair bring us down. Maybe it means not retreating into fear. Maybe it means not jumping ahead into the vast sea in front of us before God parts the water.

Maybe it means patiently waiting, waiting to see how the Lord will bring about His deliverance.

Paul echoes this same confidence while awaiting possible execution in prison.

“For I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” Philippians 1:19

Moses did not know yet HOW the Lord would bring about the deliverance of His people. But he confidently proclaims that THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR THEM. Do you believe this for yourself?

Notice next that the Lord addresses Moses saying, “Why are you crying out to me?” Amid his exhortation of assured deliverance, he still is crying out to the Lord. He may have appeared confident on the exterior, but behind the scenes he was crying out to God in anguish. Can you relate?

God now tells Moses HOW He will deliver them. He calls Moses to become an active participant in His plan. Could God have parted the Red Sea without Moses?

God also reveals to Moses the WHY behind this deliverance story.

"The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen."

All of God’s wonders, His plans, His working are pointing to this why. No matter what circumstances, what trails, what difficulties, what victories He brings about in our lives, they all focus on this vision. He wants all to know that He is the Lord and there is no other. God’s vision is so much grander than ours! Since the beginning of time, before the foundation of the world, He knew He would send Jesus to be our deliverance. Every part of Israel’s history, every part of human history, every part of YOUR STORY points to this same purpose.

Paul says:

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20.

PRAYER

Lord, forgive me when I am restless and grumble. Show me what it means to stand firm and be still. Help me to hear Your voice when You are calling me to action, to participate in Your plans of deliverance. Keep my eyes focused on You, Jesus, the One who has already gained the victory!