"When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.
When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, 'What is it?' For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them, 'It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.
This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs.
Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.'
The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little.
And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.
Then Moses said to them, 'No one is to keep any of it until morning.'
However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them." Exodus 16:14-20
*The manna came when the Israelites were still and asleep. No one kept vigil or did a rain dance or repeated prayers or lit candles or made a list of all the good things they'd done to deserve the next meal or carried out any other ritual to make the manna fall. God sifted His Bread gently on them while they slept.
God Almighty, Gentle Abba, help us be still and let You rain down Your Peace, Grace, Mercy, Love and Joy on us. Strengthen us to let go of Pharisaic laws, pagan repetitions, and Martha-service when You call us to be still and let You feed us.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
*The Israelites questioned what the manna was since it didn't appear to be food. Maybe these original breakfast flakes didn't appear substantial enough to satisfy their gnawing hunger. Many people question whether or not our invisible God exists and doubt Jesus, Son of man who lived 2,000 years ago, can do much to satisfy their gnawing hungers for love, belonging, purpose and spiritual sustenance.
Lord, help us recognize Your gifts today. We miss them when we have one specific answer we're looking for so broaden our understanding and help us joyfully accept what You give us for the day. May our lives of trust answer the world's questions about You, Your Love and Jesus' ability to fill them with everything they lack.
*Some Israelites didn't follow directions but God blessed them with what they needed anyway. After Moses identified the LORD's gift and told the Israelites to go get what they needed for the day, some Israelites took off like they were on an Easter egg hunt and gathered everything they saw. Others gave a half-hearted effort, but all were blessed with what they needed. Anyone who made an effort ended up with the same amount of the same manna: the insecure worriers who tried to stash extra "just in case;" the lazy who expected others to gather for them; the doubters who thought "I'll gather some just so no one's suspicious but then I'll sit back and watch to see if it's a trick and we all die;" the elderly or lame who gathered what they could but gave out physically before they met their quota. Everyone who gathers, ends up with the same Bread from heaven. We can't have a "little bit" of Jesus and we can't "biggie size" Jesus: we all get the same Jesus.Father, thank You that Your gift is the same for all of us no matter our personalities or backgrounds or when we were saved. The thief on the cross found an intimacy with Christ no one else did while Mary knew other soul-wrenching heights of joy and depths of despair from her pregnancy headstart of knowing this same Son of God, Son of man. Thank You for providing what we need exactly when we need it. May our trust in You grow sweeter and deeper today as we see Your answers strewn around us.
"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
*Some Israelites stunk up the camp with their lack of faith and obedience. We can be a stench to our church if we try to hoard what we shouldn't hoard: control, resources, groupies. These overdriven Israelites wanted to get ahead of God to become self-sufficient instead of God-dependent. They ruined the feasting and fellowship because they weren't willing to wait on Him.
Lord, save us from being a stench of faithlessness and pride. Lord, never let us forget we need you every minute of every day. Keep pride and self-sufficiency out of us and out of our church families. May we digest each day's portion and allow You to space our "meals" as You see fit so we benefit from all the good in every gift You send our way.
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16
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