Morning Devotion for the Season of Eastertide
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
The Invitatory
Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia."
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end.
Amen.
Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord's Name be praised.
Reading: Exodus 16:1-8
The whole congregation of the Israelites set out from Elim; and Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?” And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.”
Meditation – Michael Palmisano
“Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” So, the saying goes.
Just a month and a half after their miraculous crossing upon the dry land of the Red Sea’s floor, the Israelites are now second-guessing their decision to flee from Pharaoh’s rule in Egypt, even second-guessing God’s involvement in their liberation. Maybe God had no part in the splitting of the Sea? Maybe God had not acted on their behalf? Worse yet, maybe God had intentionally led them to the wilderness to die of hunger?
If we’re being honest with ourselves, how different are we from the Israelites in their wilderness wandering and in their short-sighted complaints against God? How startlingly brief is our memory of God’s goodness in our lives? In times of crisis and isolation do we treat God as anything more than a flippant wish-granter? Do we truly believe that the God who has brought us thus far will continue to sustain us and provide for us?
In response to the Israelites’ complaints against Him, God promises the daily provision of bread and meat, a promise which ought to serve as a parable for us. God provides an abundance each day for the Israelites but commands them to collect only enough for the day at hand (barring their double collection in preparation for the Sabbath). God longs for His people to live upon their fill of “daily bread” – the bread sufficient only for the day at hand. But can we trust in God’s provision for more than 24 hours? How far, how long, how deep are we able to trust God? The Israelites’ complaints in the wake of God’s miraculous provision should give us sufficient evidence: God is always acting on our behalf, providing not only the bread for the day, but providing the day itself. Believe in God’s provision past and present, and be certain that the future will arrive just as He has promised. In both scarcity and in abundance alike, this is the confidence we share in our life with God.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
Tis Grace has brought me safe thus far,
And Grace will lead me home.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
