Oct 22

Written by: revmcrane
10/22/2008

10/17/2008 - "Manna"   God heard their complaints and brought them out of Egypt - out of slavery and bondage.  Then they rose their voices again, bemoaning that they were taken from the land of plenty into the empty wilderness.  God heard their complaints and responded with the promise of manna and quail.  Later they would complain of the monotony of manna and quail..

Manna's mysterious.  Quail is something we understand, but mamna?  

"The Israelites took one look and said to one another, man-hu (What is it?). They had no idea what it what it was."   Sometimes God responds to our complaints in ways that cause us to say, "Huh?" 

If you "Google" manna recipes, Wikkopedia  rightly says that manna came from heaven so there isn't a recipe.  However, there are recipes for manna cookies and other other delectables (we tried two on Friday).  But however the manna tasted, it was God's response to the people's hunger.  Was it the only thing they ate?  Probably not because the people could supplement their diet with things they found in the wilderness and their livestock, but it was something that they could count on.  God's faithfulness to them. 

But could God count on the faithfulness of the Israelites?  They had trouble trusting and following God's instructions.  They took more than they needed (do you ever do that?!!) and complained about their situation (thank goodness we don't do that!).

"The People of Israel went to work and started gathering, some more, some less, but when they measured out what they had gathered, those who gathered more had no extra and those who gathered less weren't short—each person had gathered as much as was needed."   God's intention appears to be that there is enough for all - is that true in today's world?  

2 Corinthians 8:13-15 

     Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.     At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.“

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  Phil.4:19

Can you think of examples of times God has met your need (not your wants?).  Do you ever complain about the blessings God has placed in your life?  “I'm going to test them to see if they'll live according to my teaching or not.”  How easy is it to live according to God's teachings?

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