Manna from heaven

Jock Stein September 24, 2023 1 0

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Exodus 16: 2-15 (NRSVA)

2 The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.’ 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, ‘In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?’ 8 And Moses said, ‘When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.’

9 Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, “Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.”’ 10 And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked towards the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 12 ‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.”’

13 In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

Manna, mysterious manna,

falls on desert ground

and feeds God’s fractious folk.

Manna, mysterious manna,

falls without a sound

and makes God’s people praise.

Manna, mysterious manna

still falls quietly round

the Jews exiled in Babylon

until the book of Exodus

takes shape, words to astound

and feed God’s hungry ones.

So, we have this tale preserved in Exodus and treasured by Jesus and the early Christians, as we shall see for the rest of the week. Today’s reading starts with a poisonous ‘if only’ in verse 3, and ends with a life-giving ‘it is’ in verse 15. Can you check your own ‘if onlys’, and replace them with firm indicatives of affirmation and praise?

PRAY:

Lord God, giver of quails and manna and everything else, in your sight we live only a step from Sinai, only a snap of your fingers from the deserts of the Negev. You can roll up the cloths on which the rich are banqueting, and spread a table in the wilderness for your people. Help us to trust your provision for us today and every day. Feed the minds of the searching and the bodies of the hungry, through the appointed leaders of nations, the chosen leaders of churches and the challenging work of your own Spirit in the hearts of unexpected people. Amen.