Most of us probably know about manna – “a fine, flaky thing” that appeared like dew or hoarfrost on the ground, in the Old Testament.
Manna had to be collected before it melted under the heat of the sun. It could be pounded and made into bread, baked or boiled, and tasted like wafer with honey. It looked like a small coriander seed, but it was white.
There are varying descriptions of manna in Exodus and Numbers. As well as a tangled web of scientific, religious and cultural explanations of what manna is. But one thing is certain.
It was meant to feed people who were wandering around a place that had no easy supply of food.
God fed the Israelites manna for 40 years, as they navigated the desert. The command was to gather just enough manna to eat for a day. Any overage was going to spoil and stink and be infested with worms. It was only on the day before Sabbath that Israelites were allowed to collect manna that was good for two days because a Sabbath rest was mandatory. This was the only time that a two-day supply of manna did not rot.
Life is full of object lessons, isn’t it? The faster we learn them, the better we become at living a meaningful life – a life fit for a human being. Not a rat in a rat race, or a hamster trapped in a wheel.
What lessons do you think manna holds for us?
Manna reminds us that earthly things – no matter how good they seem – are fleeting. So we shouldn’t be obsessed with earthly things. They’re here today but could be gone tomorrow.
Manna teaches us not to worry. The fruits of our labor are all determined, and provided, by God. He promises to reward our diligence, good stewardship, and hard work. He promises to provide for all our needs, as long as we are obedient to Him.
Whenever we worry, it’s because we are relying on our finite, flawed selves – not on God.
We know we’re limited, that’s why we worry! But if we really trust God, it’s illogical for us to worry. We will be at peace, no matter what. Because we know that the manna we need for today will be there. It’s guaranteed because it’s God Who’s responsible for manna. Not us.
Manna also teaches us that the most basic things we need to survive come from God – not anyone else. Least of all, ourselves. Any measure of success we achieve is from God.
Because how can a dead man who died from starvation attain success at anything? We live only because God allows us to live.
Greed is symbolized by rotting manna. When we get greedy, we gather more than what we need. We work harder and harder, cheat more, steal more, exploit others more, step on others more – just to get richer, more powerful, more popular, more accomplished, more feared. Greed is not limited to money. It infests anything that feeds our selfishness. Greed controls us. That’s why God had to control man’s greed in the desert.
Furthermore, God let the manna rot and stink to show us that greed does exactly the same thing to us – it makes us rot and stink, inside and out.
Manna reminds us that earthly things – no matter how good they seem – are fleeting. So we shouldn’t be obsessed with earthly things. They’re here today but could be gone tomorrow.
A fire can burn everything we have to the ground. A heart attack can paralyze us for life. Alzheimer’s or a stroke can erase our intelligence. A bad investment can wipe us out. A fatal error can annihilate one’s reputation, business, church, or career. All it takes is one fatal blunder to make a house of cards fall apart.
But whenever we remember that every blessing in our lives – each flake of manna, each mouthful of food, each iota of success we enjoy each day – is from God, then we are practising the lessons we have learned from the manna in the desert.
Manna is God’s promise of provision to us. It’s His promise of blessing. It’s also His warning to us against self-glorification, greed, worrying, and complaining.
Every blessing is manna from God. If we remember the Giver, we will appreciate and enjoy His gifts more.
The Bible assures us that “His mercies are new every morning.” Do you know why? Well, they’re new every morning because whether we know it or not, we all need new mercies each day. Hence, we should wait with joyful expectation for His new mercies.
God designed them to meet our needs, exactly…and specifically!
