Foundations Week 7, Day 5

Scripture Read:  Exodus 16 - 17
Title: The LORD provides 
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H.E.A.R. Entry
(H) Highlight verse:  "I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel.  Say to them, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread.  Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God."""  Ex. 16:12

(E) Explain: It doesn't take long for the Israelites to start complaining again.  As they were moving along in the wilderness they started complaining that they had no food.  This was a legitimate concern, but I think it is put in this account to show that the people did not trust God to provide for them.  They began to remember how they had plenty of food in Egypt (meat pots and endless supply of bread) and they forgot about how poorly they were treated by the Egyptians. 
Moses, addresses their complaints and brings them before God.  As always God provides.  God provides plenty of meat (quail) during the evening and a bread like substance that they called manna in the morning.  God gave specific instructions as to how they are to gather the manna and He expected the people to follow these rules.  For forty years the people of Israel ate manna for food.  
As the people journeyed again they came to a place where there was no water.  Once again the people complained and once again Moses went to the LORD and once again the LORD provided water, from out of a rock no less. 

(A) Application: There is a lesson to be learned in today's passages that should be blatantly obvious... God takes care of our needs.  No matter how much we bellyache, or complain God knows our needs and He provides.  So often I catch myself complaining, worrying or grumbling against God because I feel like He has left me to fend for myself on a certain issue, but EVERY SINGLE TIME God provides.  Sometimes He provides in a conventional way, other times he provides in unconventional ways and sometimes He provides in abundance.  Sometimes I think it will take me a lifetime to fully understand and believe that God knows my needs and He will always provide according to His will.
 
(R) Respond:  LORD, I grumble, complain and worry often.  Help me to believe and trust that you will always meet my needs, no matter what.  You have never let me down and you won't ever let me down.