Exodus 16:11-12 God spoke to Moses, “I’ve listened to the complaints of the Israelites. Now tell them: ‘At dusk you will eat meat and at dawn you’ll eat your fill of bread; and you’ll realize that I am God, your God.’”

My claim to fame is successfully cooking sirloin for 200 people over hot coals at a fundraiser—and living to tell the tale. From almost rare to almost well-done, as each person preferred. I suspect the sweat drops made the meat taste even better!

But God does it quite differently. He not only gave two million people meat via a bunch of birds that landed in the camp, but also bread. He provided this every morning, just after the dew evaporated. Not once, but every day! That would be quite a task, wouldn’t it?

By this time, the Israelites had been away from Egypt for a few months. Quite a few interesting incidents had occurred on the journey, but the honeymoon phase was now over, and suddenly their new freedom started to feel like a prison.

The food they had taken with them was running low. They started to complain. Not just about the lack of food, but also about God’s guidance. They remembered the fleshpots of Egypt. Yes, when you get scared, the past starts to look better than it really was.

God hears the complaining. This is important: God is not deaf to the needs of His people, even if their attitude is not always right. That’s why He provided the Israelites meat in the evening and bread in the morning.

The desert actually became a classroom. Every evening and every morning, God taught them that He is near, that He hears, that He provides. He wanted them to trust Him. One day at a time.

Don’t we behave the same way? If I’m honest, I see myself in this mirror. As soon as things don’t go my way, I’m quick to rebel and complain.

Only to run into a caring God who overwhelms me with love around the next corner. No, my problems are not suddenly swept away, but I receive wisdom, strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit to get through them, coming out the other end much stronger than I was. Let us not lose sight of God.

Prayer
Father, I’m sorry that my faith so often fails. Thank you for the promise that you will provide …

Questions
How do I react when I feel like I don’t have enough?
Do I trust God for today, or do I want to control everything in advance?
Where has God already provided in my life that I have perhaps forgotten about?

Do this now
Today, write down three concrete things God has provided for you recently, even if they were small.
Set a reminder on your phone to thank God.
Give something practical (time, money, or help) to someone else today as a sign that you believe God will provide again.