“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will 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 or not they will walk in My instruction. “On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” (Exodus 16:4–5, NASB95)

These were pretty simple instructions.  God was providing food for the Israelites that they didn’t have to work to get.  It was absolutely a gift of God’s grace.  Every day, they were to go out and get that day’s amount.  On the 6th day, they were to get two days’ worth so that the Sabbath could be observed.  Simple!? Not!  Many of the Israelites went out during the week and gathered more than they needed for the day, thinking that they would save some for tomorrow.  But the next day, what they saved was spoiled.  Also, on the seventh day, many went out to get their daily amount and there was none to be had because they were supposed to pick up twice as much on the sixth day.  What in the world was their problem?  Did they lack faith?  I don’t think so.  I think their ailment was similar to ours today: idolatry.

We, like them, tend to want God to make sense to our minds.  We want Him to act like we would act if we were God.  We create Him in our image (idolatry) and get frustrated when He doesn’t do what we expect Him to do.  Let’s be honest.  We are believers in God.  But how many times haven’t we gone out into the field (life) expecting God to provide us what He promised, it is not there and we get frustrated?  It is not that it’s not there.  It is that He is not providing it the way we concluded that He should.

God doesn’t care so much if He makes sense to us.  He doesn’t care to be the God we think He should be.  He is, and will always be, I AM.  He is to be obeyed, not bargained with.  He is to be followed, not co-piloted with.  He is God and we are NOT!!  We need to be thankful for the gracious gifts He provides and not get worked up because He doesn’t provide them the way we think He should.  Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Let’s simply be obedient today.  Let’s let God be God and accept the rich blessing He provides as He provides them.

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church