Pulling into an open lot along a scenic road, initially it seemed as though there was no place from which to view the water. Bushes and trees were all around, as if a fortress blocking the way to the water gently waving behind it. However, stepping out into the fresh air, with each movement closer, possibilities arose, until at last, nearer still and despite any preconceived notions, a path, narrow as could be, but still present, a way through appeared.
Oftentimes, there is much more than one might see or think there to be, yet it can be tempting to refrain from asking, disregard the invitation, and instead turn back, embrace presumptions from afar, and choose a side, rather than trusting that call, choosing to discover (ask and receive), allowing paths to appear and Truth to become known.
In the passage below, what resonates most with you at this moment? Which person(s) do you identify with and in what ways? How do you desire to be, and to live? Where is God in that desire?
The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
The Israelites said to them,
“Would that we had died at the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt,
as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!
But you had to lead us into this desert
to make the whole community die of famine!”Then the Lord said to Moses,
“I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.
Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion;
thus will I test them,
to see whether they follow my instructions or not.On the sixth day, however, when they prepare what they bring in,
let it be twice as much as they gather on the other days.
So Moses and Aaron told all the Israelites,
“At evening you will know that it was the Lord
who brought you out of the land of Egypt;
and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord,
when he hears your grumbling against him.
But who are we that you should grumble against us?”And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening
and in the morning your fill of bread,
and hears the grumbling you utter against him,
who then are we?
Your grumbling is not against us, but against the Lord.”Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole Israelite community:
Approach the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.”
But while Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community,
they turned in the direction of the wilderness,
and there the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud!The Lord said to Moses:
“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites.
Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh,
and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread,
so that you may know that I, the Lord, am your God.”In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.
In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,
and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert
were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, “What is this?”
for they did not know what it was.
But Moses told them,
“This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.” – Exodus 16:2-15