Worthless Food?!?

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not… 

“’I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God…”‘

“When the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground.  When the people saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’..And Moses said, ‘It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat… Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat…’ And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less… Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.” Exodus 16:4,12,14-18

“From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. [They] spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.^‘ Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” Numbers 21:4-9

The ever-patient Lord God led, protected, and provided for Israel, yet their crusty hearts and cold consciences continually reverted to a victim mentality. When things did not go their way, God (or His leader Moses) was always to blame. Oh, how the flesh moans and misconstrues God’s marvelous work! Where the Lord gave daily care and adequate sustenance, they stewed with discontent, longing for something different. To call His manna worthless was to reject His very sustenance and plan.

And don’t we do the same? We call ridiculous the turns of event that sour our taste or impede the progress we want to make. We eschew God’s lasting treasures for worthless trinkets and temporary pleasure. We forget how the Lord has steadfastly, mercifully cared for us, measured our nourishment, and directed our path. (Hebrews 11:25)

Where are we criticizing as worthless what God has apportioned to us? Are we known as complainers? Would we confess our haughtiness and ask Him to change our attitude? Acknowledging His manifold gifts engenders a grateful heart.

Lord, may I ever thank You for Your kindness, goodness, and love.