Exodus 16: 13-21
13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there
was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like
frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw
it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is
what the LORD has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take
an omer for each person you have in your tent.’ ” 17 The Israelites did as they
were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the
omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered
little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they
needed. 19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until
morning.” 20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part
of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses
was angry with them. 21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed,
and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
Title: When
hunger strikes
Message: God
provides and for me to avail of His provision, I need to work for it, do my
part to obtain it. This is industry in context. God extended the Israelites the
food they needed but for them to eat, they had to exert effort in gathering
manna first. And as they gathered, the instruction was for them to get only the
amount they could consume for the day; however, some cheated and did get more
than what they needed. Did the act benefit them? No! The food decayed and was
no longer palatable the following day. In this part dishonesty in pretense of
good management was demonstrated and it did not bring the people any good. So I
am reminded, God does not want me to exercise hoarding or to desire for more
than what I need, may it be food or anything. He demands honesty and again,
obedience. Anything that I obtain thru deceit will never be beneficial not only
for me but for others as well as proven by the experiences of those who practiced
deception for the sake of obtaining wealth or success. Some deceive others to
attain a position desired in an organization, cheat on fellows to get more than
they deserve and most take advantage of situations to further their cause.
These people ended up suffering for having been found out later on. God reminds
me to be content and be dependent on the Divine Providence for me not to
undergo the similar scenario.
Promise to Claim: God
provides and He knows how much of His provisions we need.
Command to Obey: God wants
me to practice industry, honesty and independence. He demands that I do my duty
for me to meet my own family’s needs. He prompts me to be content, be obedient
and not to depend on others for my own needs.
Warning to Heed: Laziness
and dishonesty will not bring any good to me. Discontentment breeds disobedience and deceit.
Application: I will be
more diligent and industrious. I will depend on God and not on anybody else
concerning my needs. I will work for what I think my family needs and will
always seek God’s guidance in all that I do so that I have the idea on which to
pursue and to not pursue.
