Heart Check

The words of Scripture become so much more alive when you look at them in parallel to one's life. As I read in Exodus 15 and 16 these last few days, I was both encouraged and convicted about my attitude.

For those that do not know, we have been temporarily displaced. We are not currently where we had been living and where all of our "stuff" is, but we are also not where we will be. At times, we relate very well to the Israelites as they journeyed through the desert between Egypt and the Promised Land. In spite of our displacement, we have been blessed to see the provision of the Lord.

Unfortunately, I begin to understand more than I would like about the grumbling of the Israelites. As they approached the fifteenth day of the second month since their deliverance, they grumbled for water and food. Last week marked the fifteenth day of the second month since we have been displaced, not misplaced.

The Lord has made some parts of Exodus 16 jump out at me the last couple of days.
1. In verse 4, the Lord was going to give them daily bread to test the people, whether or not they would walk in His instruction. Heart check: am I going to walk in His instruction or rely on my own wisdom and self-reliance?
2. In verse 10, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. Heart check: am I looking to see His glory revealed?
3. In verse 18, each who gathered would have no lack nor excess. Heart check: am I content with what I really need?
4. In verse 20, why did some of the people leave some of the bread until morning? It was already stated that it was not an excess. Did they not trust God to provide the next day? Heart check: am I trusting the Lord to provide daily all I need?
5. In verse 21, they were to gather morning by morning. Later, the writer of Lamentations would write that the Lord's compassions are new every morning Jesus would teach His followers to pray for daily bread. We need spiritual bread every day. Heart check: am I coming to Him every morning for the sustenance that I need for today rather than hoping to rely on yesterday's provision?
6. In verse 23, the Lord gives instructions to provide for the people on the Sabbath. Some of the Israelites relied on their experience rather than the instructions of the Lord? Heart check: am I listening to His instructions daily or am I relying on my experience, even my past experience with Him?
7. In verse 32, Moses tells that they are to put some of the manna into a jar to keep to remind of His provision for His people. Heart check: what do I need to put in a jar to remind me later of His provision during this time?

"Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"