EXODUS 16
13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. 19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. – Exodus 16:13-21
EXODUS 16 QUAIL & MANNA FROM HEAVEN
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As the Israelites grumbled about food to Moses and Aaron
The Lord provided them with quail and manna from heaven
It was a test for them to rely on God’s provision day by day
They were only to gather enough as much as they could eat daily
If they gathered much, the manna would breed worms and stank
If they gathered less, that person will still have enough and no lack.
We witness God’s faithfulness to provide and to protect his people. After they grumbled and regretted what they were missing in terms of food supply, God sent quails. They were craving and recalling how they were not hungry when they were still in Egypt. God also sent them manna, which they were to gather only enough for what they needed for that day. They could not get more than what’s needed. This was actually a protection against the sin of greed. Those who decided to store more and hoard the manna were left with manna that had worms and stank that they cannot eat anyway.
REFLECTION
- How has God shown his provision and protection in your life?
