Disciplined Readers--Chronological One Year Bible: Manna and Maggots!

¹³ That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew. ¹⁴ When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. ¹⁵ The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was.
And Moses told them, “It is the food the LORD has given you to eat. ¹⁶ These are the LORD’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts^[c] for each person in your tent.”
¹⁷ So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. ¹⁸ But when they measured it out,^[d] everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.
¹⁹ Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” ²⁰ But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them. Exodus 16:13-20

If you are told not to do something and you do it anyway you will have maggots and stench in your home and life!

So I am sure word got around the camp about what happened. Do you think that they figured out that since the time they left Egypt Moses knew what he was talking about?

²¹ After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared. ²² On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as usual—four quarts^[e] for each person instead of two. Then all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation. ²³ He told them, “This is what the LORD commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the LORD. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.”
²⁴ So they put some aside until morning, just as Moses had commanded. And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor. ²⁵ Moses said, “Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the LORD. There will be no food on the ground today. ²⁶ You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day.”
²⁷ Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. ²⁸ The LORD asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions? ²⁹ They must realize that the Sabbath is the LORD’s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.” ³⁰ So the people did not gather any food on the seventh day. Exodus 16:21-30

Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day……..sounds like another Seventh Day Slumber!

I don’t want to be one of those people. You hear the word but you do what you are advised not to do anyway!

I can’t wait until we get to proverbs this year. In the past I have heard (read) but not always paid attention like the Israelites did. That or they understood Moses and still did not heed his instruction.

My prayer is that we just don’t read the bible this year but we learn from it and apply it daily.

Consider also the importance The Lord God is putting on the Sabbath. Do you honor the Sabbath?

Today’s Readings:

EXODUS 16:1-19:25

Tomorrow’s Readings:

EXODUS 20:1-22:15

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