The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-08-13

Only God can provide the necessi-
ties Of life. Rationing has taught US
that lesson anew if we have been at
all thoughtful about it. The plan is
one Of sharing. Sharing what? The
food and other provisions which
come to us from Gods hand. I'm
less our crops are good there will
be less to share. Only God can help
us.
This was the lesson Israel learned
in the wilderness. To reach the
goal to which God was leading them
they must pass through the wilder
ness. Not only were there many
weary miles to travel, but there
were privations to be borne. Life
is like that.
Now they cried for food. Note how
elemental are mans needs in the
final analysis-bread and water. The
very things we take almost for
granted as we concern ourselves
with life's weighty interests and pro-
found problems become, if lacking,
the only things that have any real
meaning. And who is it that can
provide them? No one but God Him
self.
I. Bread from Heaven (Exod. 16:
ll-18).
Israel's longing for meat was met
by the miraculous coming Of guam
titles Of quail ". 1877. But that was
not the food to sustain them day
after day. For this they needed
bread, and it came from heaven,
every day until they entered the
promised land (Josh. 5:12).
Observe four things about the
mama.
First, it was divine provision.
There are responsibilities in life
which we may bear-and must bear
but in the ultimate meeting of our
real needs we must look to God.
Secondly, it was a daily provision.
What forehanded folk many Of us
are, and no doubt rightly so, for
God puts no premium on IMPROVE
dence. But once again we must
recognize, as did Israel in receiv-
ing the daily mama in the wilder
ness, that ours is indeed moment
by moment existence.
We plan bravely for the next dec
ade or the next generation, but as a
matter of fact it can only come to
pass ''if the Lord will'' (read James
5:13-17).
Next, It was limited provision
enough for the day and no more, ex-
cept for a double portion on the
sixth day, and none at all on the
Sabbath. These provisions were
made clear to Israel, and yet there
were those who attempted to lay up
for the morrow, and some even
went out to seek mama on the Sab
bath day.
We marvel at their stubborn OBJ
tuseness, but are we not often just
like them. Some there are who are
always expecting that the laws of
both God and man should be set
aside for them, but they come to
grief.
Finally, it called for diligence and
action on their part. They had to
be out early each day Except the
Sabbath) to gather it. Gods mer-
cies are for those who are willing
to obey Him. He gives to. those
who receive by active faith.
III. Water from the Rock (Exod.
1850.
"And the people thirsted"-for the
daily mama was not enough, they
must have water. Needy, yes, con-
stantly needy are Gods children.
every life knows the bite Of ne
cessity every soul cries out in
pain because there is wanting some
completing favor, some eliminating
and all-contenting benediction. Here
it is bread; there it is water; but
everywhere a famine in many
a case famine Of soul, a spiritual
restitution, a consciousness of
void which time cannot satisfy or
space content"
God always provides. There is a
rock in the wilderness. But what
plGdSuKC OOCS q AAAuA AAAuA hA6 RCOpAC
find in a rock when they famish for
water? It is Gods delightful custom
to meet our needs in unexpected
ways and by means which we do
not understand. Even our physical
necessities come from unthought of
sources.
III. Christ, the Bread and Water
VI Life.
Our lesson does not give the New
Testament application Of Israel's ex-
periences, but let us not miss that
blessed spiritual truth.
In John 6:31-33, Christ is declared
to be the true bread from heaven, Of
which the mamma was but type.
Paul speaks in I Corinthians 10:
IA Of this incident in the history Of
Israel, saying that they 'did all eat
the same spiritual meat, and did all
drink the same spiritual drink; for
they drank of that spiritual Rock
that followed them: and that Rock
was Christ" (see also John 4:14).
Hungry and thirsty soul, you who
are still unsatisfied after tasting all