Exodus 16  Again the people of Israel began to grumble.. and the Lord heard their grumbling.. 

I have done my share of grumbling.. haven't you?  We are born wanting what we want.. and when we don't get it.. we grumble.  We are not so different from the Israelites. 

This time the people were grumbling about food. They were thinking about the bread they had back in Egypt.. and the meat they cooked for supper. They forgot about the hours of slave labor.. about beatings and back-breaking loads they had to carry every day..  They just wanted to know how they were going to find food in the wilderness? 

The Lord already had a plan for this.  He would provide quail for their meat.. and he would provide "bread from heaven".. manna for each day. But... there were rules...  First off, they had to go out in the morning and gather the right amount for their families.. for just that day.  Secondly, they were NOT to keep extra except on the day before the Sabbath.  Then, they would not go out on the Sabbath, for God was giving them a day of rest every 7th day. 

So, what did they do?  They tried to keep extra.. they tried to find some on the 7th day.. But, they finally figured it out and were able to trust the Lord each day for their "daily bread". 

This manna was provided for the people of Israel for 40 years... until they finally entered the promised land. 

Jesus taught His disciples to ask for daily bread.  He also taught them that He, Himself, is the true Bread from heaven.  Our Father knows what we need and He has promised to provide.. but He wants us to trust Him.  "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness"  Jesus tells us.. and the Father, who knows us completely.. will provide all that we need.  So thankful, that our God hears us.. even though we grumble.. and He is so gracious to  provide for us anyway.  

Father, turn our hearts from grumbling to gratitude!  Give us today, the daily bread that we need.. and the gracious gift of rest.. of peace.. of faith, hope, and love.  We are thankful for all You have done and continue to do for us. .moment by moment and day by day! Forgive us for grumbling and complaining.. for being impatient or prideful or greedy. May we hear Your voice and obey Your commands to us today. In Jesus ' name we pray. Amen.