Two Quarts of Manna

Have you ever eaten so much of one thing that you couldn’t stand to eat any more of it? That’s the way the Israelites felt about their manna from heaven. Forty years of the same food might drive anyone to desire something…anything else to eat. The Israelites were in a desert – surrounded by miles and miles more of desert…nothing but desert. Manna was the only thing there was to eat. Instead of being thankful for the gift of fine tasting bread that they could use to cook (or at least bake or boil, as God says in Exodus 17:23), they grumbled and grumbled some more.

“The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.’” (Exodus 17:31-32 NIV).

An omer is one tenth of an ephah (a bushel) or equal to two quarts. An omer of manna in a jar was meant to be a reminder of the way God provided for the Israelites in the desert for 40 years. He delivered manna like clockwork, six days a week for 40 years.

As we approach the season of eating (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s), let us learn to appreciate the taste of good healthy food, our manna of today (vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, dairy, chicken and fish). We have much more variety than the Israelites! Maybe we can prepare an omer of green beans as a reminder that God provides healthy food for us, even today.

Praise God!