Testing the Manna

AM Psalm 16, 17 • PM Psalm 134, 135
Exod. 16:22-36 • 1 Pet. 3:13-4:16 • John 16:1-15

Our Old Testament reading gripped me today, as it is fascinating to analyze in our current times. The Isrealites arrived at a desert as they were wandering and they were hungry and had no plan. They complained against their leaders, “at least we had meat while we were slaves!” This was not a graceful supplication, this was “grumbling against the Lord.” And yet, God provides “bread from heaven” every morning, and quail for meat at night.

I have always been fascinated with the concept of manna. The idea that you could go out in the morning and collect off the ground “white thin flakes like frost” that “tasted like wafers made with honey” (which always brought to mind Frosted Flakes). It had very specific characteristics as well. You could only gather as much as you need. If you gathered too much, it would spoil (like really gross spoil) by the next day. But on Saturday you could gather twice as much as you needed, and then not need to gather any on the Sabbath. Somehow it did not spoil when kept on Saturday nights.

Here's the kicker: people tested it. People tried to take more than they should, and keep it longer than then should. People showed up on Sunday to try to collect it. This miracle came with specific instructions, and a notable number of people disregarded those instructions in pursuit of their own benefit. What if God had changed God’s mind because of their selfish ambition? And it wasn’t just one person, and it wasn't just one time. Again and again God’s people looked a miracle in the face, asked for more, and broke the clearly defined rules. But God still loved them, and provided for them.

We are called to follow God’s commands even when others don’t. It feels so difficult at the time, seeing someone take advantage, offering love to someone who hates you, offering peace to someone who threatens you, offering hope when people are filled with hopelessness. We can not accomplish it alone, God gives us the Spirit (“The Advocate” from our Gospel reading) to find the inspiration to do the work that has been put before us. Our hope and our joy is knowing that God loves us completely, and in that love we can find the strength to give and to share grace that we did not even know we had. That holy, boundless love is there for us every morning when we wake up, kinda like Frosted Flakes.

God’s grace and peace be with you all today.

Written by Dan Robinson

Dan Robinson is the Director of Media Ministries at St Paul's, streaming the services online.