Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 (NRSV)
Read Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 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 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
The congregation of the Israelites had some words of complaint about their current situation. "We are hungry!" they said. "You led us out away from what we once knew to a place we have yet to see, with a life and food we know nothing about. In our old life we at least knew that our stomachs would be filled..." They were feeling lost in the wilderness, lost between what once was and what would be. What a challenge it can be to follow God's lead, to make changes in our lives, even when the changes are for our own good.
It can help to remember that God was there in the wilderness with the Israelites and God is with us in our wildernesses today: "...they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud." (Exodus 16:10) In the wilderness, we need to trust that God knows where we are.
Prayer
Ever-present God, remind us that you are with us today. Help us as we walk through the changes and challenges of life by feeding our courage with faith. Amen.