“Manna, Manna, Manna!”

Scripture:

Exodus 16:14-16 When the layer of dew had lifted, there on the wilderness ground was a fine flaky something, fine as frost on the ground. (15) The Israelites took one look and said to one another, man-hu (What is it?). They had no idea what it was. So Moses told them, "It's the bread GOD has given you to eat. (16) And these are GOD's instructions: 'Gather enough for each person, about two quarts per person; gather enough for everyone in your tent.'"

Exodus 16:31 The Israelites named it manna (What is it?). It looked like coriander seed, whitish. And it tasted like a cracker with honey.

Observation:

If you want a picture of the Israelites, you will find it in the Scripture's continuous reference to their murmurings. They were constantly complaining; their faith was shallow; their trust was superficial; they were selfish, their stomachs prevailing over their minds and hearts. What a token of the Lord's loving patience and long-suffering grace is provided in this picture. No doubt the hearts of the Hebrews would quake when they were summoned to hear the voice of God-and His voice would ring out, "I have heard your moaning, I know your affliction, and I hear your murmuring."

And how they must have trembled in their souls, how wide-eyed must have been their amazement when the glory of God flashed above them in a Shekinah cloud by day and a burning fire by night, guiding them on in their journey. But, here the message is different, for here the heart of God is clearly revealed. It comes in the sweet gentleness of the Lord as He promises manna because they have murmured about their hunger and have complained against Moses and God. So, in order that they may know He is the Lord, He performs the miracle of manna.

Manna appeared on the ground each day as thin flakes like frost. The people gathered it, ground it like grain, and made it into honey-tasting pancakes. For the Israelites the manna was a gift-it came every day and was just what they needed. It satisfied their temporary physical need...for a while, then they got tired of it.

Numbers 11:4-6 The riff-raff among the people had a craving and soon they had the People of Israel whining, "Why can't we have meat? (5) We ate fish in Egypt--and got it free!--to say nothing of the cucumbers and melons, the leeks and onions and garlic. (6) But nothing tastes good out here; all we get is manna, manna, manna."

Every morning the Israelites drew back their tent doors and witnessed a miracle. Covering the ground was pale yellow, fluffy manna-food from heaven. But soon that wasn't enough. Feeling it was their right to have more, they forgot what they already had. They didn't ask God to fill their need; instead, they demanded meat, and they stopped trusting God to care for them.

Application:

Dissatisfaction comes when our attention shifts from what we have to what we don't have. The people of Israel didn't seem to notice what God was doing for them-setting them free, making them a nation, giving them a new land-because they were so wrapped up in what God wasn't doing for them. They could think of nothing but the delicious Egyptian food they had left behind. Somehow they forgot that the brutal whip of Egyptian slavery was the cost of eating that food.

Before we judge the Israelites too harshly, it's helpful to think about what occupies our attention most of the time. Are we grateful for what God has given us, or are we always thinking about what we would like to have? We should not allow our unfulfilled desires to cause us to forget God's gifts of life, food, health, work, and friends. If we allow that to happen, then it won't be long before we are griping along with the Israelites, "Manna, Manna, Manna" as we overlook God's manifold blessings!

Prayer:

"Lord, forgive me for the 'manna, manna, manna' attitude. You have blessed me over and over again...so much greater than what I deserve. I choose today for my heart to be filled with gratitude, and not dwell on what I do not have. I am truly too blessed to stay stressed. In Jesus' name, amen!"