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Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day”. . . So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. . . Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.’” While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud. The LORD said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”
Devotion based on Exodus 16:4-12 (selected verses)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Well, it depends.”
That’s never an answer you want to hear. Is it? You want to have your friend over. You ask a parent, and they say, “Well, that depends.” It might depend on if you get your room cleaned. It could depend on if your mom or dad had to be at work. We all know that “it depends” usually means more work needs to be done.
In our Bible reading today, the Israelites were wandering in the desert. They were hungry. So they grumbled and complained. They were asking for food. What if God had answered, “Well, it depends.” What if God said, “Before you get food, you need to stop your whining and complaining. You need to start appreciating everything I’ve done for you. Maybe you need to work a little harder to find food in the desert.”
Instead, God said, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread.” God didn’t ask the Israelites for a big “thank you” before giving them the gift of food. God was simply meeting their needs because he loved them. God already had a track record of loving them: He freed and brought them out of slavery. He miraculously led them across the Red Sea. Now, he was going to feed them in the desert. God literally “rained down” manna (bread) and provided quail (meat) for them to eat. This was his gracious gift! God delights in meeting our every need.
What if God treated us with an ‘it depends’ attitude? If when we asked for forgiveness, it depended on something we needed to do first? People often think that they need to make up for their sins. Many religions tell people there are things they need to do to pay for what they’ve done wrong. Could anyone ever do enough? This is not how God treats us.
God shows us the same generosity he showed the Israelites. God’s love doesn’t depend on us in any way. It depends on him! God sees our needs and wants to provide for us! We know that God meets our needs because he loves us, not because he needs anything from us.
God, we know we are sinners. We don’t deserve the generosity you show us. Help us to be thankful for everything you’ve done. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
Questions for Elementary Age Children
Questions for Middle School and Above
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Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day”. . . So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. . . Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.’” While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud. The LORD said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”
Devotion based on Exodus 16:4-12 (selected verses)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Well, it depends.”
That’s never an answer you want to hear. Is it? You want to have your friend over. You ask a parent, and they say, “Well, that depends.” It might depend on if you get your room cleaned. It could depend on if your mom or dad had to be at work. We all know that “it depends” usually means more work needs to be done.
In our Bible reading today, the Israelites were wandering in the desert. They were hungry. So they grumbled and complained. They were asking for food. What if God had answered, “Well, it depends.” What if God said, “Before you get food, you need to stop your whining and complaining. You need to start appreciating everything I’ve done for you. Maybe you need to work a little harder to find food in the desert.”
Instead, God said, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread.” God didn’t ask the Israelites for a big “thank you” before giving them the gift of food. God was simply meeting their needs because he loved them. God already had a track record of loving them: He freed and brought them out of slavery. He miraculously led them across the Red Sea. Now, he was going to feed them in the desert. God literally “rained down” manna (bread) and provided quail (meat) for them to eat. This was his gracious gift! God delights in meeting our every need.
What if God treated us with an ‘it depends’ attitude? If when we asked for forgiveness, it depended on something we needed to do first? People often think that they need to make up for their sins. Many religions tell people there are things they need to do to pay for what they’ve done wrong. Could anyone ever do enough? This is not how God treats us.
God shows us the same generosity he showed the Israelites. God’s love doesn’t depend on us in any way. It depends on him! God sees our needs and wants to provide for us! We know that God meets our needs because he loves us, not because he needs anything from us.
God, we know we are sinners. We don’t deserve the generosity you show us. Help us to be thankful for everything you’ve done. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
Questions for Elementary Age Children
Questions for Middle School and Above
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