From
the Red
Sea,
Moses led the people of Israel through the desert. For
three days they searched for water. Then at last they found a spring. But the
water had a bitter taste. It was undrinkable. Then the Israelites rebelled
against Moses: Now you are letting us die of thirst in the desert! Moses
begged God: Help us! And God showed Moses a piece of wood. When Moses threw
it into the spring the water turned sweet and they could all quench their
thirst.
Soon after they began to complain to Moses
again: Why did you lead us into the desert? If only we had stayed in Egypt! There at least we had
full pans of meat and all the bread we could eat! But God said to Moses: I
will give you bread and meat, so that you learn that you can put your trust
in me. And indeed, in the evening a great flock of birds flew around the
Israelites’ camp. The birds were easy to catch. And in the morning the ground
was covered with sweet white grains of manna. Everyone was able to gather it
and they all had enough to eat. Not only that day, but every day. During the
whole forty years that the people of Israel spent in the
wilderness, God gave them bread and meat.
Since that time parents tell their
children how God once cared for his people and how he still cares for them.
All people should know that they can trust in him and rely on his help.