Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.’” And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. 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. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.
Comment: The people’s grumbling got God’s attention. It would have been better if they had learned the lesson about grumbling when they were short of water. What was the lesson? God cares for His people, and therefore approach Him in a decent manner. All parents soon not only hear their child’s request but they get to know, by the tone, the attitude of the questioner! Surely they had had time to learn something about God’s Power and Character after He had protected them from the plagues, made a way through the Red Sea and provided quality drinking water in the desert. Enough to be polite and respectful! God showed them His glory probably with the pillar which went before them and had Moses explain the plan for food. It wasn’t a full menu but they had adequate ‘manna’ (whatever that was) in the mornings and poultry in the evening. They were given instructions as to how it was to be dealt with. As you read the instructions they are simple enough – ‘But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank.’
Prayer: Please give me the wisdom, which You promised to those who asked, to learn quickly what You teach me!
As I read it! 