Wassa Manna with you?

Exodus 16

So we're halfway through month two of the wandering, athe Israelites aren't happy. We're hungry- we had pots of meat in Egypt. Why did we come out here to die? Back in Egypt it was all-you-can-eat. Feed me!

God steps in and says- I'll give you some bread. And this bread sounds good! Thin wafers that tasted like honey. The Israelites are supposed to get only enough for that day- except on the sixth day of the week. In order to prevent Sabbath working, they should get twice as much that day and prepare it for the Sabbath. They boiled or baked it the night before in anticipation of the Sabbath

This commandment sounds a lot like the storing treasure in barns parable. Get what you need for today- I took care of you today, didn't I? What makes you think that I won't tomorrow? Trust Me!

Moses seems more irritated than God when he relays the message. Look- when you grumble at us, it's pretty silly. I'm not anyone special- I'm just this guy with a stutter and a staff. When you start mouthing off and griping about what I've done to your people, what you're really doing is badmouthing God. So- God heard you whining- and He's decided to once again show you His glory. In the evening- you'll get meat- and in the morning some of that honeybread- and you'll know it was God who brought you out of Egypt.

Moses tells them they'll have all the bread they want. But when he gives them instructions, they're bringing in about a quart per person. While nutritionally, that's plenty to survive on- I don't think that would be all I'd want. Keep 'em coming. This may be an inadvertant commentary on our culture's obesity and gluttony. Maybe it was a bread and fishes kind of thing. Take this much- I promise you won't go hungry.

In the evening quail came and covered the camp. I've always thought of quail as more of a delicacy type food- more dainty than other types of meat. I wonder why quail was the meat of choice. Perhaps God knew that it would be healthier for them and increase their capacity for hiking. Maybe it was common to that region. Maybe it just really tasted good- but for whatever reason- they had plenty of quail.

In the morning, the ground was covered with dew- and when the dew passed, in its place were thin flakes like frost- this was the manna God gave them. God told them to get an omer (liter) for each person in their tent. Maybe this was an approximation though- because it said that some gathered a little and some much- I know which camp I would have been in. After they gathered, the sun would melt away all the excess.

They weren't allowed to keep it overnight though. Once again- the whole continued trust thing. If they kept it, it would be full of maggots. But of course, trying to beat the system, some tried to keep it, and of course, maggots overtook it- and of course, Moses was annoyed. However, on Sabbath eves they could keep it- and it would be fine the next day- no maggots.

On the sabbath morning, there wouldn't be any on the ground. But, some would foolishly go look and try to get some even though God told them to stay put on the Sabbath.

Moses told Aaron that God told him to take some bread and put it in a jar so future generations could see the bread God used to nourish His people with. This manna business went on for about 40 years.

It would be amazing to get to a level of trust that you could live day to day- not worrying about tomorrow- how much was in the bank, where the car payment was going to come from or how you were going to put gas in the car. This kind of trust is enviable, but difficult to achieve. How do you not worry about next month's bills? And at what point are you solving your own problems or turning them over to God?

In principle, trusting in God to deal with financial issues is wondrous- but I'm not sure what it looks like in practice. So I quit my job and trust He'll feed me? Or is the job the gift? I empty my bank account knowing He's there? Or is the bank account from Him too? There's a middle ground somewhere- even the disciples had a money purse- but it's all pretty fuzzy. Maybe the bottom line is remembering that it's not your savings or earnings that keep you going, but simply God's provision.