It was on this day that Israel entered into the Wilderness of Sin and, according to tradition, it was also on this day that the matzah (unleavened bread) Israel had brought with them from the land of Egypt was exhausted.

“And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 16:1-2)

And as we continue to read the text we see that, in the evening, God caused quail to come into the wilderness in order to feed the people with meat. This was in response to the people’s demand for food, as we read in Exodus 16:3:

“And the children of Israel said to them, ‘Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’”

This particular provision of quail is not the one that incited God’s wrath; that’s happened later. However, in this instance, we see a portent of things to come. Nevertheless, this initial supply of meat and the subsequent manna provided for them demonstrated that God was concerned and involved with satisfying their daily needs. He knew there was no place to grow grain or pasture for livestock. He knew there was not a vast supply of food in the wilderness and, yet, He brought them there. Here’s why this is something we must take notice of: 

“I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

These words provide great comfort, especially in days such as these. All around the world, and including the United States, people are going hungry for the lack of adequate food. In some parts of the world, people have no food, at all. If this trend continues, and according to Scripture it seems that it will, it’s just a matter of time before more advanced countries, like the United States, are experiencing things that are ongoing in Third World countries.

I say all of that to make this point: you and I have the promise that, in spite of our dire circumstances, He can command quail to appear out of nowhere and come to our doorstep. If it’s His will, He can cause bread to rain from heaven to be seen upon the grass, after the dew has lifted. If He can do it then, He can do it, again. That is why you and I need to make sure that we are following Him so that we will never lack for anything we need. 

Shalom.