February 12th

February 12th  -- Exodus 16 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2016&version=NLT)

Manna and quail from heaven.

So of course, being in the desert, there isn't exactly an obvious food source for the Israelites. So they call out to God for food. God tells Moses he will rain down food, and twice as much on the sixth day (enough for the seventh, because the seventh was a day of rest). God says He will provide bread (manna) in the morning and meat (quail) in the evening.

Now, I find it funny that the first time it appears, Moses says not to keep any until the next morning. Why not? Because that shows they doubt God will send them more then. The stuff that was kept was rotten and full of maggots by morning. Now, this doesn't happen on the morning of the seventh, because they have to keep bread from the sixth since God will not rain any down on the seventh - it is a day of rest.

Now, the food is called manna. Fun fact, "manna" means "what is it?" This was the Israelites first reaction to finding it - nobody knew what it was.

So, God commands them to preserve some of this manna for future generations. They did so. This eventually came to be put into the Ark of the Covenant, which I find interesting. Also, these people had manna fall each morning (and double the sixth to make up for the seventh) for FOURTY years. God really did provide.

Now, God is not so much concerned with our temporary physical comfort, for our lives on earth will be not but a blink of an eye in eternity, however, He still provides. He proves he is faithful and kind to His children - that He loves them. Although He knows they have better things coming in eternity, he still provides for their physical needs then and there without fail. I find that incredible. A being outside of time who does not feel the effects of things like pain or hunger loved us enough to remember without fail to provide for our needs because though He does not feel those things, we do.
It just goes to show God is ALWAYS looking out for us.

God bless!