Bird Devotional 67

Gambel’s Quail, Callipepla gambelii

“They asked, and He brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven." Psalm 105:40

Gambel’s Quails are found in the arid country of the American southwest and northern Mexico. They often gather in large flocks in open, brushy areas. Both sexes of Gambel’s Quails have what I would describe as an apostrophe-shaped black plume in the middle of the forehead. The males are more colorful overall, and have a striking black face and throat. Quails are good to eat, and there are Gambel’s Quail hunting seasons in seven western states.

In the Bible, we read the story of how God fed manna to the Children of Israel in the wilderness. The manna appeared on the ground every morning, and fed them one day at a time. They soon grew tired of manna, and longed for the delicacies they enjoyed in Egypt: “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” (Numbers 11:4-6) The Lord heard the grumbling of the people, and told Moses, “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat… until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it’” (Numbers 11:18,20). The Lord answered the people by giving them so much meat it made them sick. The meat came in the form of quails: “Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It brought them down all around the camp to about three feet above the ground” (Numbers 11:31). Can you imagine? The birds were piled three feet deep all around the camp! Do you ever grumble to God like the Israelites? Do you wonder why you are unhappy and unsatisfied even when He answers your prayers? Maybe it’s because many of us are more concerned about our personal desires than we are about our relationship with Him. Pray with an unselfish heart, and draw close to Him. Then your prayers will be answered in ways that will fill your life with joy and peace.

Father, I confess that I often grumble when I come to you in prayer. Forgive me for my selfishness, and satisfy me with the “True Bread of Heaven.” Amen.