When you look at it, the Israelites really had nothing to whine about...They were crying and complaining, saying that they had nothing to eat, when in fact if you look at Exodus 17:3 the Israelites talk about needing water for their livestock. They still had herds and flocks that they could eat from. So, they were not starving, they just weren't getting their way and what they wanted when they wanted it. Sound familiar?

You see, the Israelites were confusing their needs with their wants. We often find ourselves in the same situation, we let our greeds become our needs in our own minds. The Israelites also did something else that we often find our selves doing, they exaggerated the advantages of their former situation. they said, "Remember the good old days? how we used to sit around pots of meat in Egypt and eat to our fill?" REALLY? The good old days? Yeah, the good old days, the days when they were in slavery and bondage, the days when they were told what to do and had no choice whether to do it or not, the days when the task master's used to beat them for not performing their task well enough, yeah, those were the days.

We find ourselves many times wishing that we could go back to the 'good old days,' but were they really that good? Was life good before you met Christ? Was life fulfilling before the Savior saved you? These are the good days, as the old song says, "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before, Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more..." Rejoice today, because it is a good day with Christ who has saved us and delivered us from the bondage of sin...This is the day that the LORD has made I WILL rejoice and be GLAD in it!

Till later...Bro. Alan :)

Amazingly enough, in spite of Israel's whining, God listened and gave them what they asked for.
God not only heard them, but he also provided for them: "The LORD said to Moses, 'I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, "At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God."'"
God not only provided for them, but He provided in abundance. He fed them until they were satisfied. The only reason that God did this was for His Glory and because of His infinite patience, because after all their grumbling, it was much more that Israel deserved.
God made good on His promise. He provided food that very night and then again the following morning.

God is gracious and full of mercy, He meets our needs always, even when we grumble. He gives us what we need and not what we deserve. I'm glad He does! Thank Him today for what He has given you and thank Him that He has not given us what we deserve...

Till whenever...Bro. Alan

It's Been A While

Yes, it has been a while since my last blog, so long as a matter of fact that I had forgotten the password to access my account! I'm sorry that it has taken so long to update, but things have been a little busy. May is a maddening month, with all the banquets, ball games, graduation preparations, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and the fact that I am going back to school to complete my Master's, time seems to get away from me these days.

Anyway, This week we are going to be looking at Exodus 16:1-20. This is the account of God providing the people with their daily need of food. It's when God rained down manna upon the Children of Israel every morning to feed them, everyday that is except for Saturday, the sabbath, which was to be a day of rest.

Yesterday in church, we looked at when the Children of Israel had come to the water's of Marah. The water was so bitter that it was not suitable for human consumption, and the people began to complain and whine to Moses. Moses prayed, received instructions from the Lord about how to make the water sweet by putting a tree into the water and did so and the people drank sweet, refreshing water to their hearts desire.

Now, you would think that after whining to Moses and Moses praying to the Father and the Father meeting their needs that they would learn to trust in God to provide for their needs. You would think that, but that's not what happened.

In verse 2 of Exodus 16 the people begin to complain and whine once again. At least this time Moses is not alone, they are also calling Aaron out as one that should be held responsible.

Think about it, they had just been delivered from Pharaoh and his army, they had seen the LORD destroy Pharaoh in the Red Sea, the very sea that they passed through on dry land to safety, they had seen the LORD provide fresh, sweet water for them from a bitter source, they had gone into Elim and found palm trees to rest under and pools of water to relax by and again, at the first sign of trouble what did they do? They began t owhine and complain again.

Now before we are too judgmental, let's think about our own lives for a moment. How many times has God provided for you? Has He met all your needs? Has He shown Himself to be faithful to you in all things? Yet how many times do we want to just quit, give up and complain about all that's wrong with the world?

We look back on the Children of Israel in the desert and wonder why they just couldn't have faith and believe, because God would meet all their needs. Well, can I tell you that GOd has not changed, the same GOd that met the needs of the Hebrews in the desert is the same GOd that wants to meet your needs today. Don't complain, instead thank God now for the provision that He is going to meet today.

Till 'whenever'...Bro. Alan