Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 26, 2022: SOAP #4437:  Exodus 14-16; Acts 2

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus (NIV) 16:35 The Israelites ate manna for forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

OBSERVATION: God had led the Israelites out of Egypt into the wilderness to be crossed on their way to the Promised Land.  God delivered them from Egypt, God was leading them to the Promised Land, and God would provide their food and water. 

The manna that God provided came with a few specific instructions:  First, only take what your family needs for that day.  Those who felt they could not trust God to keep His word, gathered extra that they put aside for the next day.  But the extra in the morning smelled and had maggots!  Second:  on the sixth day, they were to take enough for two days because there would be no manna on the sabbath day.  Sure enough, some people who had learned their lesson about taking too much on the first day, went out looking for manna on day seven!  There was none.  The real lesson was not about how much manna to take but learning to be obedient!  

For forty years God was faithful!  When the Israelites were faithful, God faithfully provided manna.  When the Israelites were unfaithful, God faithfully provided manna.  God’s faithfulness is based on God’s character and on His promises. 

APPLICATION:  The promise of provision was not made to them individually, but to them as a nation.  There was no promise of provision to those who left on their own to make their own way to the Promised Land, or to return to Egypt!  God’s faithfulness provides for me in the place God has assigned me. 

When my faithfulness aligns under God’s faithfulness, I find blessing and provision.  I must be obedient to go where God leads me, AND I must be content to stay where God has placed me. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, your faithfulness to me is great.  I rejoice in your faithfulness to me.  It is my pleasure to follow you.  May I give you reason to rejoice in my faithfulness to you.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon