God Naturally
When all seems lost and we pray for help, do we really expect it to come?
In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. - Exodus 16:13-14
In today's reading from Exodus, God hears the complaints of the people, and he responds. We would say that he answers the prayers of the people, but they might see this differently.
To the Israelites, and to Moses, God relents. He gives them what they want, in a way that could be perceived as either a miracle or as a natural occurrence.
It is what God does. He uses nature to help us.
Sometimes it is hard to tell if we are receiving our help from Him or we just happen to hit a lucky break. It makes me wonder if there were some who failed to see the quails and manna as gifts from God.
When things turn out right for us, when the universe seems to shine on us and show us favor, how do we perceive it?
Do we thank God for hearing our cries, or do we marvel at the complexities of nature and see the world as our playground?
It is what God intended, though, isn't it, for us to enjoy the world he created for us?
It is all His doing, after all. When the quails fly in and settle in our camp and the morning dew leaves its breakfast on the cactus, we see these as natural, and they are.
We are a part of His natural kingdom, and through Him we can gain dominion over it for ever.
More to come...