Old Faithful is why most visitors go to Yellowstone National Park. It's an impressive geyser that fits into people's lives because it sticks to a schedule. People can count on Old Faithful.
Since its discovery in the late 1870s, Old Faithful has awed tens of millions with its impressive 100-180 ft. column of water and steam. It has become the most famous geyser in the world.
Hundreds of people line up to get a glimpse of Old Faithful every hour and a half. (varies from 30 mins to 1-1/2 hrs) They want to see Old Faithful show up for a one to five minute appearance.
For all these years, Old Faithful has gone off and has always shown up.
In Exodus, God's people were hungry, thirsty, lost and confused. They had been brought out of Egypt, a place of slavery, death and imprisonment, but now they worried whether the God who delivered them out of Egypt would be faithful in keeping them alive in the desert.
The people started crying out to their leader, Moses, "We wish the Lord had killed us in Egypt. When we lived there, we could at least sit down and eat all the bread and meat we wanted. But you have brought us out here into this desert, where we are going to starve." Exodus 16:3 CEV
With over a million mouths to feed, you probably get the idea of why this was such a big concern. Bringing home the bacon and faithfully providing for God's chosen people was a big job. The Israelites knew God could do amazing things, turning water into blood, parting the Red Sea, but unlike those miracles, feeding them wouldn't be a one-time miracle. It would have to be a consistent and faithful miracle.
Was their God not just powerful but also faithful? Would He choose to show up time and time again?
Well, the good news is God had an answer for the people.
"I will send bread down from heaven like rain. Each day the people can go out and gather only enough for that day. That's how I will see if they obey me." Exodus 16:4 CEV
The Israelites were happy enough with that at first, but only bread? Could God be counted on to bring home meat, not just bread? I mean, even prisoners get bread and water. Were the Israelites prisoners in the desert?
God answers their questions and doubts about His faithfulness and provision by telling Moses this,
"I have heard my people complain. Now tell them that each evening they will have meat and each morning they will have more than enough bread. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God." Exodus 16:12 CEV
That night literally tons of quail showed up for the Israelites to eat, and in the morning, the bread-like flakes called manna covered the ground.
The coolest part of this story to me isn't just the miracle that happened. It is the blessing of bread, water and meat happened every day for 40 years!
While the Israelites needed food in the desert, God provided them with this miracle over and over - faithfully - every day!
In spite of our lack of faith, God shows up in our lives ... because He is faithful even when we aren't!
He is Faithful!!
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