Provision

In Exodus 16, about a month and a half after Moses led the people out of Egypt, any provisions the people had brought with them had run out. They were tired, they were hungry, and they were afraid that they had left what now seemed like plenty, in Egypt, for nothing. Out of fear and discomfort, the people complained to Moses and Aaron.

I wonder if Moses did not ask God for food because he didn't want to bother God again. After all, God knew what they needed. God had already brought them out of Egypt, and they had seen God part the Red Sea so they could walk across on dry land. Of course God would give them food... eventually.

As it turns out, Moses did not have to ask God. God heard the people and supplied both bread and meat (quail) - enough for each day, but not enough to keep for the next day; except on the sixth day, when they were to gather double as none would be given on the sabbath.

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” (Ex. 16:4-5)

Just like the people of Israel, when our circumstances don't match our expectations we easily become doubtful and wonder if we were mistaken about what God has called us to. Perhaps we sometimes find ourselves lacking because we have failed to ask God - allowing ourselves to believe that God is not interested, or that God is tired of our requests.

God did not hesitate to answer the cries of His people then, and God will not hesitate to answer the cries of His people today.

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matt. 7:7-8)