Manna – More Than A Serving Suggestion
““Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”” (Ex. 16:25–26 NIV11)
Manna. Miraculous bread from heaven. We’re told that it came like thin layers of frost overnight (vs 14) and tasted like wafers made with honey (vs31). We’re also told that it had several other qualities that made this food particularly unique.
Bread of equality
“And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.” (Ex. 16:18 NIV11)
Somehow, miraculously, God ensured that His people weren’t sustained unequally. There’s something here about God’s provision, His character, and His vision for how things should work. A fundamental equality is behind this delivery. No matter the effort the blessing was the same – enough for all.
Daily bread
The bread that was collected was to sustain them for one day only.
“However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.” (Ex. 16:20 NIV11)
The miraculous food wouldn’t last in the pantry. You couldn’t stockpile God’s blessings. It was new every morning. Except for one day..
“He said to them, “This is what the LORD commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’ ”” (Ex. 16:23 NIV11)
The Friday bread was enough for two days because God didn’t want them working on the Sabbath. The quality of this bread changed on Friday. Friday’s bread could last for two days without maggots. But not Monday’s. All other day’s bread would turn to maggots if kept or stored.
This tells me that Sabbath matters. It’s not just a good idea. A serving suggestion (as we see on packs of serial). No. Sabbath is baked in to creation. A day of rest – the 7th day is for the Lord.
This brings me to a commandment and a prayer.
The Lord commanded the Israelites to keep the Sabbath day holy and to do no work – that it might go well with them (Ex 20:9-11). It matters more than we think that we make time for focus and rest.
Jesus then puts this idea of dependant provision right at the front of the Lord’s Prayer – as you no doubt remember:
“Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us today our daily bread..
”Better bread
God’s grace to the Israelites was bread every morning. In a similar way God tells us His mercies are new every morning:
“Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22–23 NIV11)
We need that daily faithfulness from God. Jesus takes it even further;
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”” (John 6:51 NIV11)
In His mercy the grace of God to those who trust Him doesn’t come from flakes on the ground but from His Son who have His life for us. We are sustained today by the grace of God that forgives, the grace that sustains, and the grace that makes us sons and daughters. Turning to Him daily reminds us that real food is to know, and rely, and depend upon, Jesus.
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to seek Your daily mercies. Help me to rejoice in the bread of Your Son. Sustain me today, give me faith to rest and reset on my sabbath. Keep me today I pray.
Amen.
