THE DAY THE MANNA STOPPED
God had miraculously supplied manna for the wandering Israelites for forty years. An entire generation died off in the wilderness because of their unbelief and lack of trust in God's power to provide. God gathered Moses to his people on Mount Nebo and Joshua assumed the mantel of leadership. Acting fully in God's power, Joshua led the Israelites into a seige on Jericho. God provided victory causing Jericho to fall, then Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan. According to the law God gave Moses in the desert, on the fourteenth day of the month, the Israelites held their first celebration of Passover in the Promised Land. The day after that, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened bread and roasted grain. The very next day the manna stopped.
When I read that, I paused and read it again. I wanted more. I wanted to know how the people responded: those complaining whiny people who detested the manna God miraculously provided every day. Were they glad? Did anyone miss the manna when it was gone? A whole generation of children grew up eating only manna. Did anyone complain because manna had become their favorite food? Did they notice the miracle of God providing the manna as long as it was needed and then stopping it completely? Or did they just move on to the very next thing they were dissatisfied about?
Think of it, for forty years, manna covered the desert floor in thin flakes every morning like frost. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. The people gathered just enough for the day, except on the day before Sabbath, when they gathered enough for two days. It was a gracious gift from Almighty God. It supplied all the nutrients the people of Israel needed for sustenance on their journey. It didn't require ice chests or storage bins. They had exactly what they needed to prepare it without a trip to the grocery store. How like God to think of something so perfect.
Sometimes I travail over a situation--like help me think of creative ways to serve manna so I don't realize I'm eating the same thing every single day. Sometimes I cry out to God for something else to eat. But what God is saying here is that my prayers during manna season should change. Instead of complaining or asking God to remove the displeasing situation, I should offer thanksgiving for always knowing perfectly what I need. God could have let the Israelites eat bugs. If I was God, I might have said, "Find your own food. You don't appreciate anything I give you. You've already forgotten how you cried for deliverance from Egypt and I brought you out a great nation according to my promise to Abraham." And when He stopped the manna, without fanfare or notice, it was because they didn't need it anymore. He knows what He's doing.
How can my eating manna every day bring glory to God's Holy Name? That should be my prayer. And when the manna stops, I should pray, "How can my not eating manna anymore bring glory to God's Holy Name?" Bringing glory to God, that's my life purpose. In manna season and out.
When I read that, I paused and read it again. I wanted more. I wanted to know how the people responded: those complaining whiny people who detested the manna God miraculously provided every day. Were they glad? Did anyone miss the manna when it was gone? A whole generation of children grew up eating only manna. Did anyone complain because manna had become their favorite food? Did they notice the miracle of God providing the manna as long as it was needed and then stopping it completely? Or did they just move on to the very next thing they were dissatisfied about?
Think of it, for forty years, manna covered the desert floor in thin flakes every morning like frost. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. The people gathered just enough for the day, except on the day before Sabbath, when they gathered enough for two days. It was a gracious gift from Almighty God. It supplied all the nutrients the people of Israel needed for sustenance on their journey. It didn't require ice chests or storage bins. They had exactly what they needed to prepare it without a trip to the grocery store. How like God to think of something so perfect.
Sometimes I travail over a situation--like help me think of creative ways to serve manna so I don't realize I'm eating the same thing every single day. Sometimes I cry out to God for something else to eat. But what God is saying here is that my prayers during manna season should change. Instead of complaining or asking God to remove the displeasing situation, I should offer thanksgiving for always knowing perfectly what I need. God could have let the Israelites eat bugs. If I was God, I might have said, "Find your own food. You don't appreciate anything I give you. You've already forgotten how you cried for deliverance from Egypt and I brought you out a great nation according to my promise to Abraham." And when He stopped the manna, without fanfare or notice, it was because they didn't need it anymore. He knows what He's doing.
How can my eating manna every day bring glory to God's Holy Name? That should be my prayer. And when the manna stops, I should pray, "How can my not eating manna anymore bring glory to God's Holy Name?" Bringing glory to God, that's my life purpose. In manna season and out.
Good post! thank you
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Yet, much remains unclear. If you do not complicate, shall describe in more detail.
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