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“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Thy name, O Most High.” Psalm 92:1
Many times we think of the word “thankful” in November as we are feasting around a table of turkey and dressing with family and friends. However, the Lord is teaching me how important it is to be thankful in every moment and for everything. In Exodus, God’s Word reveals a situation where the children of Israel received many gifts from the Lord, but they did not show appreciation for what had been given. When the Israelites escaped from slavery in Egypt, they were in a situation where God had to intervene. They could not survive without the Lord, and God proved to them His faithfulness. Hebrews 3:9 states that the Israelites “saw” God’s works for forty years. In this verse the Greek the word “saw” means seeing, perceiving, understanding and experiencing. The Israelites had the privilege of experiencing miracles from God on a continual basis.
God provided the people with manna, a food that came down from heaven each night, and it was tasty and nourishing. One scholar said that the Israelites would need about 4,500 tons of manna every day! Next, the Lord provided quail and also water from a rock for nourishment. The only water the people had was bitter and undrinkable. 15,000,000 gallons of water per day were required to meet the basic needs of 3 million people. God was providing for the Israelites’ needs every day in miraculous ways!
Many times we think of the word “thankful” in November as we are feasting around a table of turkey and dressing with family and friends. However, the Lord is teaching me how important it is to be thankful in every moment and for everything. In Exodus, God’s Word reveals a situation where the children of Israel received many gifts from the Lord, but they did not show appreciation for what had been given. When the Israelites escaped from slavery in Egypt, they were in a situation where God had to intervene. They could not survive without the Lord, and God proved to them His faithfulness. Hebrews 3:9 states that the Israelites “saw” God’s works for forty years. In this verse the Greek the word “saw” means seeing, perceiving, understanding and experiencing. The Israelites had the privilege of experiencing miracles from God on a continual basis.
God provided the people with manna, a food that came down from heaven each night, and it was tasty and nourishing. One scholar said that the Israelites would need about 4,500 tons of manna every day! Next, the Lord provided quail and also water from a rock for nourishment. The only water the people had was bitter and undrinkable. 15,000,000 gallons of water per day were required to meet the basic needs of 3 million people. God was providing for the Israelites’ needs every day in miraculous ways!
However, Hebrews 3:8 tells us that the hearts of the Israelites were hardened. Despite God’s provisions, the people had become indifferent, insensitive, and ungrateful to the Lord. Exodus 16 verse 2 says “the whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.”
Every day God provides for each of our needs and sometimes beyond what we need. Think of the things God provides for you on a daily basis. A few examples are water, food, clothing, sunlight, health, sight…the list could fill up this page! How often do we come to the end of the day and have not expressed our gratitude to the Lord? May we not become like the Israelites with hardened hearts and complaining attitudes. Moses sang the following song to the Lord, and I pray that this will be the cry of our hearts also:
“The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
This is my God, and I will praise Him;
Who is like Thee among the gods, O Lord?
Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness,
Awesome in praises, working wonders?”Exodus 15:2, 11
What are you praising and thanking God for today?
~Jennie
I spent all day with God today, and I just broke down crying, thanking God for His presence. He truly is a blessing. He is so amazing. :')
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