Reflections based on Exodus 15:1–18 and 16:2–3.

Our reading for today shows us how quickly we humans forget! God had miraculously delivered the Israelites from their oppressors, the Egyptians, by opening the Red Sea for them to cross safely, then closing it over their pursuers. Immediately afterwards they burst into a spontaneous song of thanks. Yet, by the next chapter they are longing to be back in Egypt because the going is tough! They’ve forgotten what they experienced there, and aren’t trusting that God will provide all their needs while they are in the desert. Did they truly think God would do such an amazing miracle to ensure their freedom, then leave them to starve in the desert? But, by focusing on their immediate needs, that was exactly what they were believing.

While we may judge the Israelites for their lack of trust, we, too, can quickly forget God’s goodness. By focusing on difficult circumstances we can get blinkered, and unable to see God’s perspective on the situation. But by remembering the good things He has done we can feed our souls with truths that build our faith back up and help us to believe that, while we may not get instant relief from our problems, God still has our backs.

One important way to remember is to delve into Scripture to see how God has been faithful to His people throughout time. Indeed, Romans 15:4 says that ‘everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.’ One of the purposes of the Bible is to feed us with knowledge of God, providing us with an assurance of His overall perfect plan.

For prayer and reflection: Thank you Lord for the Bible, and for all the wonderful stories of your faithfulness that it contains. Help me not to be as forgetful as the Israelites were.