If you or someone you love served in the military, you may be familiar with the acronym MRE, “Meal, Ready to Eat.” In 1963, the Department of Defense began developing a food ration that would utilize modern food preparation technology to create a lighter version of canned goods. The dehydrated meals are stored in pouches and accompanied by a flameless heater that allows meals to be prepared and served no matter the conditions. For the Israelites, finding daily rations was becoming increasingly difficult. Having fled Egypt, their supplies were running low. Time spent on the journey meant that what was left was probably inedible. How could they continue without nourishment? God took notice when the Israelites grumbled. There is no doubt that God heard His people, for He appeared to them in a cloud. He informed Moses that He would supply their needs with quail in the evening and manna in the morning (v. 12). The manna, a sweet, honey-like grain, would carpet the desert floor each morning and could then be ground into fresh bread. What an amazing gift from God! God also gave a few restrictions. First, they were not to hoard the supplies, keeping extra for themselves. Rather they were to believe that God would be faithful and that He would daily supply their needs—which He did for 40 years (v. 35). If they kept extra, it would become infested with maggots and rot (v. 20). Of course some did not listen, did not trust God, and hid supplies. The second rule was that they were not to gather manna on the Sabbath. We must understand God’s faithfulness. He can and does meet the needs of His people. He is reliable and true.