Teachings – Manna in the Field

MANNA IN THE FIELD

UNFOLDING TWELVE

WHERE WE ARE

We began our journey in the Garden of Eden, and went east. Adam lived 930 years to bear children. His children bore children; generation after generation. They lived under the curse and hardship that Adam’s sin brought upon the ground. Not that all of Adam’s children were farmers. Many went on to other vocations, but we can be assured they all faced the thorns and thistles.

Then, next, we learned how God transplanted certain trees in the courtyard of our great God… trees that grew old, and the young people who were often dismissed. I do not know why Pastor spoke of the transplanted trees in the order that he followed. The Lord, perhaps, will reveal that to us later, but for now, we fast forward hundreds of years down a particular line of descent – through Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob… to arrive at Moses. Moses is leading Israel, God’s complaining children, in the desert.

SCRIPTURE

Exodus 16: 31,33,25

“And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.” And the children of Israel ate manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. “

MANNA IN THE FIELD
UNFOLDING ELEVEN

The children of Israel ate manna for forty years. The wilderness was their field. While the children of Israel were on their way to the promised land, there was no stopping to plant, even as there was no time for them to leaven the bread before they left Goshen. Thus, God sent manna from heaven. Said Pastor, 

“The Israelites must have learned His goodness, because He had not supplied them with tasteless food.”

And, each man tasted the manna according to his own liking. Yes, there is a goodness shown of God in that he met the needs and tastes of each of the children. God might have sent tasteless, stale bread could from heaven, but He didn’t. Moreover, Pastor explains further about God giving that manna:

• He gave it for every day. They had no need to store or carry it, 
• Manna was given to every man in an adequate portion, and  
• Was a test by which God taught the children of Israel.

As the children of Israel learned, we learn that – 

• Our supplies depend on God.
• God provides faithfully to us as He provided for the children of Israel over the forty years, 
• We must gather and prepare the manna for serving by ourselves, and 
• We should be content with what God supplied.

THOUGHT GOING FORWARD

Life for us is a wilderness. It may not seem a wilderness because we are not uprooted (having to take down our tents and tabernacle) to venture on God’s path. There are times that we remain where we are for years… some, your lifetimes. Of course, we can always feel lost absent Christ, but that isn’t the issue here. We are the children of God. If we are, then the wilderness that we face is one of having a doubt about ourselves, others, even God. Nevertheless, God does provide for us daily though there comes a time that God’s manna may lose its taste. But then again, is it the manna or is it God in whom we lose our taste from time to time when presented the more ‘exotic’ and thrilling taste of sin? I suspect that may have something to do with our momentary lapses, when we fall by the wayside.  

IN TRIBUTE TO SPURGEON’S LOVE OF SHORT RHYMES

Bread from heaven, not stale or dry
my portion, every day.
Still I murmur… I face discontent
if only my faith held sway.