Exodus 16:1-5,13-18
We
come back to these stories of the ancient Israelites again and again because these
stories serve as a mirror—we find ourselves in these stories.
Today’s
reading has the Israelites “starving to death.” Not really, but they think they
are, and they’ve already managed to forget everything God has done for them.
They have forgotten the miraculous plagues that led to their freedom (frogs,
flies, locusts, and more), they have forgotten that they were able to simply
walk out of Egypt to begin their journey to the Promised Land, and they have
forgotten that God has just recently saved them from the Egyptian army as they
walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. Do they really think that the God who
brought through all of that would let them die now?
This
spiritual amnesia is rather common among God’s people. We today forget about
God’s provision and care just as our spiritual ancestors over 3000 years ago
did. Even the people who walked with Jesus lost sight of God’s provision and
care. Jesus sat them down and taught them again:
“…I tell you, do not
worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body,
what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than
clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do
not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds
them. Are you not much more valuable than they? … So
do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What
shall we wear?’ … But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. (Matthew 6:25-34)
Jesus’
message for them and for us is simple: 1) Get your eyes off of yourself; look
to God and look to others as you strive to live the Kingdom life. And, 2) Trust
God—trust the God who made this world, who made and cares for the birds and the
flowers; trust that the One who created you will sustain you. Trust is the
opposite of worry. So, when we feel ‘worry’ creeping up on us, we need to stop,
take a breath, and determine to trust God—in everything! After all, when has
worry ever helped us effectively deal with any issue of our lives?
Let
us set our sights on God and God’s Kingdom…and let us trust the One who made us
to sustain us. Yes, that’s a better way of living.
Sunday, October 5, 2025
“God Provides”
Watch/Listen: HERE
