“Our daily bread”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Friday, April 29, 2022
Exodus 16:22-36 (Forward, p. 90) CEV p. 71
Unfortunately, the Lord’s Prayer has often become so familiar, so routine, that we almost say it by rote. However, those who heard it first from the lips of Jesus would have immediately been struck by certain phrases found therein, specifically the phrase, ‘Give us today our daily bread’—translated in the Good News Bible as ‘give us day by day the food we need.’ Jesus’ listeners would have been reminded of how God did this very thing during their ancestors’ forty-year sojourn in the wilderness.
Today’s passage from Exodus relates some of the details of that provision, a provision that was nothing less than miraculous:
a) They were to gather up two quarts (an omer) for each person in their household. As it was, some gathered more and some less, but according to their needs, and there was none less over. God’s provision was exact.
b) They were to gather it each day (day by day)—except for the eve of the Sabbath—and not leave it overnight. Those that did leave it found it stink and full of worms come morning. In other words, they were to rely upon the fresh provision of God each and every day.
c) However, on the eve of the Sabbath they were to gather twice as much, as on the Sabbath there would be none. This time, this time only, they were to keep it overnight. There were some who doubted this, or wanted to be sure, and when they went out there was none at all to be had. (God was none too pleased with this lack of faith or belief on their part, this lack of obedience, same as with those who tried to routinely keep it overnight). Interestingly, contrary to what had happened previously, none of it that was kept overnight on the eve of the Sabbath was found to have spoiled.
d) The manna, for this is what it was called, would appear each morning after the dew had evaporated. The desert floor would be covered with thin flakes that looked like frost and tasted like coriander and like wafers made with honey. But whatever was not gathered up melted in the hot midday sun. According to our text, the manna could be prepared several ways, either baked or boiled. Now, the incredible thing is that this provision lasted the entire forty years that the Israelites spent in the wilderness, right up until they came to the borders of Canaan, the Promised Land. In fact, two texts (Deuteronomy 2:7 and Nehemiah 9:21) suggest that during this time in the wilderness that they lacked nothing.
So, in the Lord’s Prayer we pray for this daily provision from God, and not just ‘bread’, but whatever we need for our physical existence. And Jesus counsels us not to be worried or concerned about what we shall eat (or wear or anything else) but simply to put all our thoughts and efforts into seeking, pursuing, working for God’s kingdom, leaving the rest, the outcome up onto Him (Matthew 6:33). Then, He says, ‘all these things—all our needs—shall be added unto you.’
So, it’s a matter of trust, of our doing our part and leaving God to do His. But, do we actually do that? Are we willing to leave it to Him? And, do we leave off fretting and worrying and simply trust Him to look after us? It’s a hard one, one that most surely tests our faith and our resolve, for most of us, if truth be told, are pretty good at taking matters into our own hands and pretty good at worrying. Amen.
Forward notes: “The LORD said to Moses, ‘How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and instructions? See! The LORD has given you the sabbath, therefore on the sixth day he gives you food for two days; each of you stay where you are; do not leave your place on the seventh day’” (verses 28-29).
“I have lived in New York City and in San Francisco, California. One similarity they share is work cultures that tend to be unhealthy. Finance types working on Wall Street and tech types at Apple, Google, and Facebook in the Bay Area endure long hours and unreasonable expectations.
“Working for the church is not all that different. As a church employee, I can easily get caught in the trap of always doing. I can fall into the mindset that if I stop to take a rest, then nothing will get done. Worse, things will all fall apart. But that is what the world and my ego tell me. It is not the truth.
It is not what God is telling me. God says I need to stop and rest to be truly effective and fulfilled.”
MOVING FORWARD: “Do you need a day (or more) to renew and refresh? Make plans to set aside a full day in the coming weeks.”