Reading: Matthew 12:38-50, Acts 18:1-17, Psalm 29, Exodus 16-18

Recall:
“When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it doesn’t find anyone, it says, ‘I’ll go back to my old haunt.’ On return it finds the person spotlessly clean, but vacant. It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits more evil than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse off than if he’d never gotten cleaned up in the first place.
Matthew 12:43-45

Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name;
worship the LORD in holy splendor.
 
The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD, over mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
Psalm 29:1-4

When the layer of dew had lifted, there on the wilderness ground was a fine flaky something, fine as frost on the ground. The Israelites took one look and said to one another, man-hu (What is it?). They had no idea what it was.

So Moses told them, “It’s the bread GOD has given you to eat. And these are GOD’S instructions: ‘Gather enough for each person, about two quarts per person; gather enough for everyone in your tent.’” Exodus 16:14-16
Reflect:
I was just talking to someone about this passage from Matthew. We have to take care to fill ourselves with something. We can't just get rid of stuff, we can't just keep fixing problems.

Spiritually, we have to go on the offensive. If I am chasing the Divine, there isn't time or space for the evil spirits to come back.

Exodus 16 is an almost comical passage to read. Comical because anyone who has ever led or attempted to lead people can identify so closely with this millennia-old passage. There will always be some who just can't or won't get it. Here's when you pick up the manna, here's when you don't. Pretty simple yet...

16:14-16 is a great picture of how God often works in my life. I have a concern or a need and God provides for it--often in a way that is completely unexpected, a way I didn't request because I didn't know to request it.
Respond:
Gracious God, you indeed are mighty. You provide. You provide. I praise you with the Psalmist. Continue your gentle work with me. Continue to draw me into you. You know what is best for me. You can take care of what I need and identify the things I don't.