
(Mornin' Glory, 2008 JAVanDevender, Click for larger image)
Exodus 16:4-8
4 Then the LORDsaid to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. 5 "And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily." 6 Then Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, "At evening you shall know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 "And in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD; for He hears your complaints against the LORD. But what are we, that you complain against us?" 8 Also Moses said, "This shall be seen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the LORD hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD."
Ipomoea nil (Ipomoea is New Latin from the Greek ips (worm) and homoios (resembling) = resembling a worm, perhaps referring to the plants tubers) is an unlikely name for a common flower. This one is easily bypassed and not often really noticed exactly because it is so common. And yet, when we pause to look at it, growing in enthusiastic profusion amidst the other weeds along the road, there is a bit of perfection in it. The shade of blue is somewhere deeper than a robin's egg but still delicate and unobtrusive. The petals surround the white center and the stamen is almost invisible in its blending. Truly it is a morning glory. All too often we take glory for granted.
Perhaps the Morning Glory can teach us to remember the Lord and His blessings in the awakening hours of the day. The Israelites were told they would see the glory of the Lord when he poured forth the blessings of food, manna from heaven, in response to their complaint of hunger. Pretty soon they grew tired of that same manna when it too became common, yet every day the miracle was renewed, every morning gave witness to the love of God for His people.
Each day the Lord continues to furnish us with what we need. Each day there is the miracle of His restraint in withholding judgment on our sin, allowing us opportunity to repent (Rom. 2), and beyond that, opening the treasures of heaven to furnish us with the invigorating nourishment of His Spirit as well as His Providence. Truly the Glory of the Lord is beautiful every morning. How much better would our day progress if we started it humbly, on our knees, opening our hearts like the Morning Glory flower to the awakening day and the Son who rises in it in our lives? Perhaps, like that flower, in doing so, our lives might become beautiful also, living testaments of thanksgiving to our awesome Creator, Savior and Lord.
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