How Do You Receive the Plan of God?
September 27, 2023
How do You Receive the Plan of God?
By Brooke Holt
“And Moses said, ‘When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.’” Exodus 16:8
When the Israelites lamented to Moses and Aaron that they were dying of hunger out in the wilderness, they looked back to the times in Egypt, “When we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full” (Exodus 16:3). In Egypt, they had plenty of food along with slave labor and oppression. In the wilderness, they did not yet have an abundance of food, but they did enjoy freedom - no longer forced to do hard labor and no more oppression. With their very own eyes, the Israelites had seen God’s miraculous deliverance. God set them free from the Pharaoh and their task masters. Yet, here, they longed for Egypt – for the food and all the bondages that came with it.
As always, God had a better plan for his people. They would eat their fill of meat and bread again, but it would not be provided in the land of Egypt. Instead, the meat and bread would come from the hand of God. Daily, they would see God’s glory demonstrated among them as he provided for their daily nourishment.
Often, we think of God’s glory being revealed in power and might like the splitting of the Red Sea or the Passover. Here, God reveals his glory through his mercy and his provision of food for the people. They cried out in anguish assuming they would starve to death. God heard, and God responded with food for the day.
Moses addresses the people, calling them to recognize both the work of their Lord and that God had appointed him and Aaron as the leaders for the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. As fellow Israelites, Moses and Aaron also came under the Lord’s care and guidance.
Would the Israelite people embrace God’s plan for them and the leaders he provided to walk the journey with them, or would they continue to resist, complain, and doubt? God demonstrated his goodness by providing just what they wanted and needed – meat and bread. They would always have enough.
Reflection:
How do you receive God’s plan? Do you seek his revelations of glory daily in your life? Do you marvel at his provision, mercy, and grace, or do you continue to resist him, doubt him, and persist in complaining? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Related Resource:
Come explore the grand story of God as the one who knows and loves his people. In one of the greatest love stories ever told, The Book of Exodus reveals God as Yahweh, the Great “I AM.” He is the transcendent, all-powerful creator of all things who defeated the greatest powers of the earth. This same God would have his people know and love him in an intimate and personal way. The Great “I AM” – A Study of the Book of Exodus is a 9-week study consisting of a small group study guide combined with weekly video teachings. Come and meet The Great “I AM”.
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