Quail for Dinner

And the LORD said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’” In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. (Exodus 16:11-14 ESV). Some time ago we spent a little time dealing with the Manna that God provided for Israel while they were in the wilderness. When the people began to complain that all they had to eat was “frosted flakes” God heard them and sent them quail for dinner! There is a marvelous truth in the midst of this passage. Every good and perfect gift is from above. We ought to remember that God is the Alpha and the Omega. This world has nothing on our God. He was before television, microwaves, computers, and DVD's! This is a string reminder that God cares for us. Not just in a practical sense, but in the pleasures of life as well. God cares about our taste buds, our sense of smell, and our appetites! Praise God, too, because can you imagine eating tree roots and leaves all our life? However, we ought to also realize that God's timing is always perfect. I think about the hours and dollars invested in the timing of the release of a product. God knew just when to send the quail. It must have disappointed him in that they did not trust him for his timing. They grumbled and complained. I wonder how often we have been guilty of the same attitudes? We seem to have conditioned ourselves to wanting what we want when we want it. And, that timing is almost always now. Sometimes we ought to step back from our now attitude and realize that God’s timing is always best. I must confess that is much harder, but it always best. He is the first among all things, He cares for you, and He is always, always, and always right on time! In 1893, engineer George Ferris built a machine that bears his name, the Ferris wheel. When it was finished, he invited a newspaper reporter to accompany him and his wife for the inaugural ride. It was a windy July day, so a stiff breeze struck the wheel with great force as it slowly began its rotation. Despite the wind, the wheel turned flawlessly. After one revolution, Ferris called for the machine to be stopped so that he, his wife, and the reporter could step out. In braving that one revolution on the windblown Ferris wheel, each occupant demonstrated genuine faith. Mr. Ferris began with the scientific knowledge that the machine would work and that it would be safe. Mrs. Ferris and the reporter believed the machine would work on the basis of what the inventor had said. But only after the ride could it be said of all three that they had personal, experiential faith. Jesus walked among us to prove that God’s provision is always available. Trust Him!