Not Manna Again!

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.
And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day,
that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.”
(Exodus 16:4 NKJV)

I have had jobs that were incredibly tedious. I have had jobs that were exciting and adrenalin fueled, but even those had periods of boredom and monotony. It was during one of these boring times, when I was grousing and complaining about the situation, I read the story of the Exodus.

The book of Exodus recounts the trials and travels of the Israelites as they wandered in the desert before entering the Promised Land. They were confused and frightened, but God provided for them in every possible way. He led them by a pillar of cloud during the day and by a pillar of fire every night. Their shoes did not wear out, they stayed healthy, and He provided water and sustenance whenever they needed it. Yet the Israelites still complained and whined despite having all the necessities of life. Sound familiar?

The commentary I was reading alongside the verse above pointed out the piece most of us probably miss — “that I may test them.” Manna wasn’t sent simply as a supply to keep them alive; it was a test from God.

Every day for forty years, God faithfully sent the manna. Manna every day—boiled, baked, barbecued, broiled, basted, buttered, battered—always manna. God provided it, not only for their bodies, but as a test of their patience, perseverance, and day-in and day-out obedience. They did not pass the test. Their complaints resulted in them getting bombarded with quails – kind of – taking a bit of poetic license here.

God never ever lets an experience go to waste. He uses those slow, tedious times to build our patience and perseverance. As this sank into my brain, I realized I needed to ask God for forgiveness for whining and, more importantly, to thank Him for what He has given me. Before I get hit on the head by a bird.