SUMMARY: Water whiners
OVERVIEW: Israel grumbled about their food, and God provided meat in the evening and bread in the morning. He had specific instructions on gathering, teaching Israel that they could trust him for their daily bread.
BIG IDEA: Be thankful for what you have. Don’t whine and complain over what you don’t.
KEY VERSE: Exodus 16:4 (God to Moses)
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.”
IF GOD WROTE YOU A LETTER
You grumble and wonder why I don’t provide what you want. You complain, but I do hear you. I am not a distant God who doesn’t care, nor am I powerless and unable to provide. You whine for what you crave and desire. I will not always give you what you want, but I will always give you what you need.
Thank me both for what I provide and for what I withhold. I want you to know that whatever you receive is a blessing and is in your best interest. I am not an unknown force somewhere in the sky. I am the God of the universe who made you, knows you, and loves you. Trust me for what you need. And because I know what you need, don’t be afraid to share it with others. My blessings are not limited. Be generous to others—show others what I provide and use it as an opportunity to tell others about me.
NEXT STEP
Think about some of your unanswered prayers. In faith, thank God for saying “no” to those requests, believing that he knows best. Thank him for understanding your needs and providing for them in timely and appropriate ways.
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