Wormy Manna

I know those Israelites get a bad rap sometimes, wandering around in the desert, complaining, disobeying etc. There have been several times as I read their story that I think, “The promise land is right there! How on earth are you managing to miss it? God has also provided for you so many times, why are you still doubting Him?”

They had seen Him deliver them from Egypt, (loaded down with their neighbors’ gold no less) part the Red Sea and drown their pursuers. They even had the visible evidence that He was with them in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. But still, when faced with hunger, they doubted.

God miraculously provided again with bread from Heaven. This “manna” would come down during the night each night and cover the ground. They could gather it in the morning for the day’s food and then it would dissolve in the sun. God gave specific instructions that they were to only gather enough for the day and they were not to try to store any for the next, except when the next day was the Sabbath. Sounds straight-forward enough: all they had to do was trust God and He would feed them.

What is it about us humans that finds simple trust and obedience so difficult? Of course, some of the Israelites had to disobey. Whether they thought it would be easier to gather two days worth of food at once or whether they just couldn’t quite trust that the manna would be there again in the morning, there were some that gathered too much. The next day they found the consequences of their action: wormy manna.

I understand this all too well. I am a “squirrel” by nature. I like to keep my cupboards stocked. If my freezer is not full, I get nervous. Unfortunately, this is not just an innocent habit of mine. It stems from an innate distrust in the goodness and provision of God. Just like those Israelites missing the point over and over, God has miraculously provided for me and my family over and over–and still I worry!

I am still working towards complete trust and faith in God. I do not want to end up with wormy manna that I have tried to provide for myself. God wants us to trust in His amazing abundance and goodness. He has all the riches of Heaven at His disposal and He loves to give them to His children. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this next week, I am going to try to focus on the lavishness of His love for me. I want to be truly thankful and grateful for all He has provided for me and learn to trust and accept that He will continue to do so.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

P.S. The pictures of the real worms were too gross so I went with gummy worms!