Exodus 16:2-15 (NRSV)
Read Exodus 16:2-15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 2The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. Verse 3The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." Verse 4Then the Lord said to Moses, "I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. Verse 5On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days." Verse 6So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, Verse 7and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?" Verse 8And Moses said, "When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him-what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord." Verse 9Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, 'Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.'" Verse 10And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. Verse 11The Lord spoke to Moses and said, Verse 12"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.'"
Verse 13In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. Verse 14When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. Verse 15When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.
Devotion
Last year about this time, our collective consciousness was flooded by the onslaught of a record-breaking hurricane season. Those natural and human disasters unfolded around the Caribbean, the Gulf region and especially around New Orleans, with Hurricane Katrina in late August. As many of us watched from afar, our hearts and spirits were moved from shock and horror to prayer and offerings of food, water, medicine and shelter. Such prayers and offerings are still needed, of course, so we dare not forget …
But in the wilderness, Moses and the Israelites came to grips with similar needs: where would food and drink come from? I believe the answer then offers hope for answers we need today: “Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.”(v. 9).
Prayer
Lord of the harvest, in the fruitfulness of this season, lead us to generous ways of sharing with those in need. And in the face of human and natural disasters, show us your saving presence. Amen.