When the Israelites first saw the food that God had provided for them in the wilderness, it's the question they asked: “Manna” they shouted - literally, 'what is it?' The simplistic answer:of course, was that it was wafers of honey flavoured goodness!
In truth though, it was so much more.
In truth though, it was so much more.
What is it?
"You are a perverse and rebellious people, always inclined to go your own way, throwing back in the face of God, all that He has done. But here His good response, at no cost to you. You don't have to hunt for it or cook it or store it. It is entirely free."
It is God's grace.
“You are in the wilderness instead of the land I promised you, because you would not trust me. Out of fear you are in this dead place. It is the consequence of your unwillingness to believe that I AM as I have said. By every token of justice, I should leave you to die as a consequence of your sin. But here it is, food to sustain and encourage you.”
It is God's mercy
“By every right of common sense, you should trust me. Everything I have ever done, demonstrates my trustworthiness. From the reality of creation through the miracle of the Red Sea, that you experienced just days ago, I have consistently and persistently shown that I am faithful. Yet I know you live in a fallen world, with fallen reason and an enemy who sows doubt at every turn. So every day but one, I will give you a concrete expression of my faithfulness, and even on that one day, there will be enough.”
It is God's compassion.
“I have made it clear that I hate sin, that it repels me, that it brings death to our relationship. Yet rather than run away from your poison, I will stay by you. I will continue to be your Father, lovingly caring for you, even though you have run away. Day by day, I will tend your need, matching the quantity precisely to your numbers, to your situation, to your needs. I will keep my promises.”
It is God's presence.
“You are in this wilderness place, not as a punishment, but because of your own perverse choices. I am sustaining you with this food, through this period, waiting for a new generation able to make a different choice. It is a symbol of my hope for you. The sin of that first Adam and all since, has made a wilderness of the paradise I created for you. Now we must wait for another Adam to come and make a different choice. In the meantime, I will be with you, I will sustain you, this food is a token of the one to come who will feed you with His own broken body.”
It is God's promise.
What is it?
Whether we are in a place of paradise or a place of wilderness, when we taste the goodness of God, let's be quick to give thanks. Then stop. Look again. It wasn't just the salary at the end of the month, it wasn't just the quick recovery from that illness, it wasn't just His protection in that accident. It wasn't just the peace in that anxious situation.
Whether it is the kind word from a friend, the glimpse of a beautiful sunset, the scent of a summer flower, the melody of a memory-filled song, it was His grace, His mercy, His compassion, His presence, His provision, His promise.
Give thanks for all that it is.
Whether it is the kind word from a friend, the glimpse of a beautiful sunset, the scent of a summer flower, the melody of a memory-filled song, it was His grace, His mercy, His compassion, His presence, His provision, His promise.
Give thanks for all that it is.