TUESDAY (12/15/20)

Hi, my name is Megan Colvin. I’ve been on the elder team for 2 years and also serve on the women’s ministry team with a wonderful group of ladies. I have been married to Greg for 22 years and we have been attending Riverside for almost 10 years with our children Charlie (17), Ben (16), Lincoln (9), Crisiya (9), Tariya (9) and Eddie (8). As an added bonus our oldest son Nick, daughter-in-law Morgan and granddaughter Genevieve (2 months) live right across the street!

The passage you are going to read today is Exodus 16. In this chapter the Israelites, led by Moses and Aaron, left Elim and entered the Desert of Sin. As things began to get more difficult and uncomfortable the Israelites started to complain and grumble. The Lord told Moses He would provide for them by sending manna. He provided detailed instruction on the collection of the manna. The Lord was teaching and testing the Israelites to see if they would obey His instructions. He also sent quail for them for their evening meal. When morning came the Israelites collected just as much as they needed. Moses told them not to save any of it, some did and it was rotten. As they were instructed on the sixth day they collected twice as much so they could rest on the seventh day, the Sabbath. Some still went to gather on the seventh day and there was nothing to be found. The Lord instructed them to save two quarts in a jar that would then be placed at the Ark of the Covenant so their descendants could see the food He had provided for them during the forty years that it took them to get to the land of Canaan.

There is so much symbolism in this passage, but I am going to focus on just a few things here. God wanted to provide for his people. As the Israelites complained and grumbled, He sent manna from heaven down to earth so they had sustenance to strengthen their bodies, and so they would survive their journey.

In the same way, God sent Jesus, perfect Redeemer, from heaven down to earth to satisfy us spiritually. Jesus, who came as a baby, was then placed in a manger (a feeding trough!) God provided Jesus, the Bread of Life, to redeem us from our sin. When God instructed them to put the manna in The Ark of the Covenant it was to show generations of people of His provision, that He always had these things in place because of His Sovereignty.

Now, do the Know, Be, Do method of study through the chapter.

  • KNOW – What does the text say about God?
  • BE – What does the text say about us?
  • DO – What is the text calling me to do?

Pray that the Lord will bring to mind all the things He has provided for you and thank Him for them.