I Still Eat Manna

Do you remember the story of the Israelites leaving their lives as slaves in Egypt? You can read the account in Exodus 12. Do you remember how God provided for them? God sent manna and quail to fall fresh on the ground every morning (Exodus 16). Researchers suggest that it was literally around 4,000 tons of manna every morning that fell to the ground. Then God sent quail. It’s assessed that in order to feed all of God’s people in the wilderness it would take nearly 90 million quail per month flying over-head and dropping to the ground for them to eat. That amount of food falling is astounding! I couldn't imagine seeing that many birds over my head. Well, we know the role of God’s provision, but let’s look at the Israelite's role:  

The Bible says in Hebrews 3:9 that the Israelites tested God in the wilderness. The word tested in Greek peiradzo. This word means that they were testing God to see if he was faithful. It literally means to see if something was as good as the advertisement for it. The Greek Lexicon also says it means “a tempting that stems from distrust.” They wanted God to prove himself. The word for “prove” in the Greek is dokimadzo. This word means that whatever they were testing was found to be authentic, true, real.

Any child that was born during that forty year period, was used to that manna every morning; to them, manna was common-place, and therefore lost some of its miraculous provision. God’s work was not extraordinary anymore. In verse 8 of Hebrews 3, Scripture reveals that there was hardness of heart (skleruno) among the people. Skleruno in Greek more precisely means a soil that is so tough water cannot break through (Rick Renner defined). God may have provided for their physical needs, but because they did not thank him or praise him, their bellies were satisfied and tongues were quenched but their hearts were displeased and dry.

I don’t know about you, but finding fresh, sweet, honey bread outside my home every morning would be amazing! I think I wouldn't forget about that provision, but here’s the deal: I forget all the time about God’s provisions for me… The account of the Israelites distrust and ungratefulness strikes my heart, as I realize that I awake every morning to God’s supernatural provisions: he gives me grace, beauty, joy, love, truth, power, and a heart of a conqueror. I wake up to the battle having already been won for me through the blood of Jesus Christ, but I go about my day with even a hint of a “thank you.” I awake to provisions that I could have never done for myself, and yet, I forget to thank God.

Luke 10:23-24 says that we do have something that other’s longed for—the Word of Christ and his salvation (Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.) Those prophets and Kings would look at us and think, “How could they wake up to having the opportunity for a personal relationship with God and walk away from it? How could they not cherish the time they have to spend with God and his word?”  That is kind of a scary thought.

At the end of the day, I have tasted manna (phenomenal wonders in my life that only God could do), and I want to remember to thank him for every sensational blessing.

What about you?

Do you see yourself also having tons of “manna” and “quail” in your life?

What miracle has God done for you that you sometimes forget?

Let’s try to remember to thank him!

I pray that we will not become “skleruno”, but instead that we will be filled with gratefulness.