Tag Archives: Poem devotional

EXODUS 16 WHEN THE ISRAELITES TESTED THE LORD

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June 17

EXODUS 17

All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massahand Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

                                                             – Exodus 17:1-7

EXODUS 16 WHEN THE ISRAELITES TESTED THE LORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God’s people moved into Rephidim and camped there

There was no water source and they began to complain again

They blamed Moses once more for dying there of thirst

They began to doubt and questioned the presence of God

Despite God’s faithfulness to provide everything to them

They still had the audacity to grumble and not totally trust him.

The Israelites journeyed the wilderness for many years. During those times, they have witnessed God’s power and steadfast love for them by providing their food and ensuring they were protected from the elements. But when they moved to this place called Rephidim and they found not one water source, they began to grumble again and blamed Moses for taking them there to die of thirst.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think people automatically grumble each time there is a lack?

EXODUS 16 REMEMBRANCE OF THE MANNA

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June 16

EXODUS 16

31 Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” 33 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.” 34 As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the testimony to be kept. 35 The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan. 36 (An omer is the tenth part of an ephah.) – Exodus 16:31-36

EXODUS 16 REMEMBRANCE OF THE MANNA

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord faithfully provided his people in the wilderness with manna

It nourished them all those times until they arrived in Canaan

God wanted them to remember this provision of the manna

They were to pass on this memory to the generations to come.

During those forty years in the wilderness, the Lord provided the Israelites with bread from heaven called manna. They didn’t go hungry for four decades and God was faithful to provide for their needs. Can you imagine being one of Israelites, eating that bread day in and day out for forty years? Would they have died from hunger if this manna wasn’t provided for them? They would have died and not survived all those forty years. I think God wanted them to remember that without his grace and provision, they would have died. The Lord wants them to remember the giver of this manna, their covenant God.

At the beginning it was probably a novelty for them to be provided with bread to eat daily but later on, it must have been tiring to have the same thing over and over again for forty years.  And because they are humans, they will eventually grumble when their needs and cravings are not satisfied.

REFLECTION

  • How can we prevent taking for granted what we were provided for by God?

EXODUS 16 ON FOLLOWING THE SABBATH

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June 15

EXODUS 16

22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.”27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day. – Exodus 16:22-30

EXODUS 16 ON FOLLOWING THE SABBATH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After the Israelites were provided with their bread and meat,

Moses instructed the people not gather manna on the seventh day

The Lord wanted them to set aside the seventh day to rest and honor him

But the Israelites were stubborn and some didn’t stop gathering manna that day

Those who gathered on the seventh day didn’t find any manna

Since they were given extra on the sixth day, they were to rest on the Sabbath.

It amazes me how stubborn and disobedient God’s people were that time. We are no better because some of us also forget to follow and respect the Sabbath. It is a day for us to honor, thank and praise the Lord. He rested from creation on the seventh day and since we were made in his image, he wanted us to emulate what he did. Because of sin, it is hard for humans to give God the glory on our own, but if we walk in the Spirit and obey his commands, he will give us the ability to rest and set aside this one day of the week to praise the Lord who provides for all our needs.

REFLECTION

  • Share some challenges you’ve had on respecting and honoring the Sabbath?
  • Why do you think God requires this rest from work on this day?

EXODUS 16 QUAIL & MANNA FROM HEAVEN

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June 14

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?

EXODUS 16 THE SIN OF GRUMBLING

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June 13

EXODUS 16

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” 10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”   – Exodus 16:6-12

EXODUS 16 THE SIN OF GRUMBLING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the Israelites grumbled to Moses and Aaron

They had no idea that they were doing it unto the Lord

Moses asked Aaron to explain to them that it was a sin against God

And the Lord appeared in the cloud as Aaron spoke to the congregation

The Lord responded to their grumbling by providing them their desires

It was to make them see that he is faithful despite their complaints.

What makes one grumble? Isn’t it about something that you currently do not possess? It could be a desire to be comfortable, to be respected and honored or to be looked up to or fully satisfied or to be clear of discomfort or pain or many other reasons. Isn’t craving or desiring something you don’t have the culprit of such complaints? Aaron pointed out to God’s people that it was a sin against God. They thought that if they complained to Aaron and Moses, they could ask God to give them what they wanted. We saw here how God provided what they were whining about but he also showed them that it was a sin of mistrust on him. They were impatient to wait on the Lord to provide for their needs.

REFLECTION

·       What causes you to grumble? Why is grumbling considered a sin against God?

EXODUS 16 ON GRUMBLING ISRAELITES & GOD’S RESPONSE

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June 12

EXODUS 16

They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”  – Exodus 16:1-5

EXODUS 16 ON GRUMBLING ISRAELITES & GOD’S RESPONSE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As the people moved deeper into the wilderness between Elim and Sinai

Hunger began to consume the Israelites and they began to grumble

They regretted leaving Egypt where they didn’t go hungry

Even though they were enslaved in oppressive labor, they were nourished

So, God’s response to this was the promise of bread from heaven

But it was also a test for the Israelites to depend on his provision.

It is interesting what hunger can to us humans. There is now a condition called “hangry” which is irritability and anger due to having an empty stomach. According to researchers there is a link between hunger and irritability due to low levels of blood sugar and the hormones released as a result. Could it be that this was true as well among the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness?

Food is one of our basic needs, but when it becomes the reason for living, it becomes an addiction. In the case of the Israelites, they have forgotten that they were oppressed and forced to do hard labor. Because of the scarcity of food during their journey, they began to imagine how it was when they had food despite the harsh treatment they got from the Egyptians. The lust of the flesh overtook them and they forgot what God did for them.

REFLECTION

  • Share how hunger could make us grumble and affect our walk with God.

EXODUS 15 SING TO THE LORD

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June 10

EXODUS 15

19 For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”   – Exodus 15:19-21

EXODUS 15 SING TO THE LORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Let us sing to the Lord to praise his wondrous deeds

The Lord rescued his own people from wickedness

He drew the waters out of the sea so they could pass

The waters were split in two and there was dry ground

When the enemy followed suit, they were covered in water

All of Pharaoh’s chariots, horses and horsemen were eradicated

Miriam led the women to worship God with tambourines and dancing

They declared God’s wondrous deeds at the sea when they were rescued.

The following verses in Colossians 3:16, Psalm 100:1-2, Ephesians 5:19, and Psalm 95:1-2 tell us the importance of singing to the Lord. It is not a performance kind of singing that the world does, but it is singing to praise the Lord and thank him for all that he has done for us. The focus is to give God glory and not the singer. Ephesians 5:19 specifically uses psalms, hymns and spiritual songs as a way of addressing one another and making melody to the Lord with our hearts. Sadly, many other Christian denominations have taken singing to the Lord to another level. They make songs that talk about their feelings to the Lord and focus much on how God makes them comfortable and how they feel good about what God did for them. It appears they are singing to the Lord, but are more focused on their own feelings and not what God’s character and power is. It does not edify God but it draws attention to themselves under the guise of using God’s name or word.

REFLECTION

·       What are the ways we can truly sing to the Lord and give him praise?

EXODUS 15 FEAR OF THE WORLD VERSUS FEAR OF THE LORD

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June 9

EXODUS 15


13 “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;
    you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.
14 The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab;
    all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. 16 Terror and dread fall upon them;
    because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone,

   till your people, O Lord, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased.
17 You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,
    the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode,
    the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.
18 The Lord will reign forever and ever.  – Exodus 15:13-18

EXODUS 15 FEAR OF THE WORLD VERSUS FEAR OF THE LORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the news of the extermination of the Egyptians spread around

The people of Canaan, Philistia, Moab and Edom trembled

Because of the Lord’s punishment on Egypt, they were all afraid

They heard how the Israelites were rescued from the Egyptians

They were terrorized by the power of this God whom they do not know

And the people of God continued to praise the Lord for what he had done.

When terror grips a person, it makes him freeze, panic, run or immobilize. It is interesting how these ungodly people feared that they may be the next nation to be exterminated after the Egyptians. They didn’t know the power of the God of the Israelites. The gods they serve cannot do these things.  Only the One true God can do these wondrous deeds.  They are now trembling in fear of what might happen to them. There is so much confusion, chaos and unrest among the unbelieving nations.

On the other hand, the Israelites had a different fear. They saw how God faithfully delivered them from the Egyptians. The wondrous deeds of God must have added to the reverence and honor they ought to give their God.

REFLECTION

  • How was the fear of the unbelievers different from God’s people?

EXODUS 15 WHO IS LIKE THE LORD

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June 8

EXODUS 15

8 At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;
    the floods stood up in a heap;

    the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake,
    I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
    I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’
10 You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;

    they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?

      Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
    awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
12 You stretched out your right hand;
    the earth swallowed them.  – Exodus 15:8-12

EXODUS 15 WHO IS LIKE THE LORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Is there anyone else who is like the Lord?

Who can bring a strong wind and lift up the sea?

Who can put up the waters and make it into walls?

Can anyone blow the wind and annihilate an army of men?

No other gods can be majestic in holiness and power like the Lord

No one else’s right hand can have such an ability to destroy.

This account is a part of the song of Moses which he wrote so that the Israelites will always remember how they were delivered from the Egyptians at the Red Sea. It magnifies the Lord’s majestic powers and glory.

Moses lifts up and exalts the Lord so that the Israelites can continue to rejoice and be glad that they were rescued from slavery and death. What is great about this part of his song is how he points out that no one else can be like God. No one else can do such miracles and no one else can save them from the enemy like God can. Moses wants them to never forget what God has done for them.

REFLECTION

·       How has God manifested his glory and power in your life?

EXODUS 15 THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH & MY SONG

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June 7

EXODUS 15

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
    the horse and his riderhe has thrown into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.

4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea,
    and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
5 The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,

your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
7 In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries;
    you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.

                                                                   – Exodus 15:1-7

EXODUS 15 THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH & MY SONG

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When I am faced with adversities and attacks from the foe

I will not fear for the Lord is my strength and my song

The Lord will fight for me and shatter those who hurt me

He will bring his fury and wrath to all those bring injustice

I will praise the Lord; he will save his people and bring down the foe

His right hand will consume all the tactics and plots of the evil one

I will sing and praise the Lord who is full of majesty and glory

He is the only source of strength and triumph over the enemy.

In this song of Moses, we hear how he praised, worshiped and sang to edify and glorify the Lord. Right after the Israelites were delivered from the Egyptians and everything that God did for them was still very fresh in their hearts and minds, Moses composed this song so they could express their joy and thankfulness to God for all that he did for them to be freed from the enemy. They wanted to please the Lord for his wondrous deeds for them.

REFLECTION

  • Why was it important that Moses wrote this song after their deliverance?