November 29, 2022

Passage Read: Exodus 15-18
Meditation Verses: 16:3-4

Thought

The people grumble, then God acts. Does God not know their need for bread and water? Of course He does! But the people don't have the same patience, nor do they respect the Lord enough to fear criticizing Him. They go a few days without meat, their food stores start to run low, and they panic. They don't ask God to provide, they don't trust that God will. They aren't willing to endure a few days without food. God is testing them in all these things: Will they trust Him? Will they honor Him? Will they believe that He knows and cares about their needs? Will they wait patiently? Will they make request respectfully? Or will they grumble and complain? Will they treat God with contempt? How are these the people God has saved? Why did He choose them? Was there no other people on earth who would show Him the respect and honor He deserved, especially after all He had done for them?

Application

Do I believe the Lord knows my needs? Do I think He will only act if I whine and complain? Or can I trust Him to bring me a job when He finishes testing me? This would be so much easier if I weren't imposing on another. But God cares about her too. He is testing her as surely as He is testing us. Will we all wait patiently for His supply? Do we even need to ask Him to provide work for us? He knows when we need something and what we need. But neither is He offended if we ask respectfully. Perhaps He waited so long to provide for the Israelites not because He wanted them to see how long they could go without food before complaining, but He wanted to see whether or not they would ask respectfully then trust Him to provide in His own time. God has not and will not abandon His children, but He wants His children to trust and honor Him. He deserves that.