Manna from Heaven

When God rained down food from heaven for the starving Israelites, they asked, ‘What is it?’ and called it manna.  God’s fresh provisions for His people stood as a sign of God seeing and caring.

Years later, those closest to Jesus boldly and desperately questioned if He cared.  Jesus slept soundly in a boat with His disciples as waves nearly swamped their vessel.  His disciples woke Him up and asked, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38).  In response, Jesus not only kept the boat from overturning, but He calmed the entire sea.  

And then there was Martha, overwhelmed by an internal storm of frustration as she made all of her preparations for houseguests alone, without the help of her apparently capable sister.  She equally pleaded to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?” (Luke 10:40).  Jesus responded by freeing her from her stress.  In contrast to society’s hierarchy of obligations, His expectations were simple.

When Jesus taught multitudes on the hillside, He miraculously provided food from five loaves of bread and two fish for over 5,000 people because He saw that the people were hungry in a remote place.  Jesus reminded the people that God provides for us physically and spiritually.  He explained, “Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.  But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:49-51).

Throughout history, God has tangibly provided for His people’s physical and spiritual needs in unexpected ways.  And He still does.  My kids know the story of God giving me my favorite tea.  At one point when our family was tight financially, I thought hard over every purchase we made.  I remember standing in Publix holding a peppermint tea box, thinking of whether it was what we needed or if it was just my want.  I put it back for something more sensible.  A day later, I sat at a new friend’s kitchen table.  She asked if I liked tea and pulled out a box of the same brand of peppermint tea I had held the day before.  She said she had tried it and really didn’t like it—would I want it?  I hadn’t asked God for tea in prayer, nor had I complained to Him that I didn’t feel like I should buy it.  But there in my hands was a love note—a heavenly provision which came in an unexpected way.

Lately, my 'manna' has come in the form of people—friends and family offering rides for our kids, lending books with timely messages, calling to catch up, and writing encouraging words for my soul.  God provides what we most need for our bodies—and spirits.  I’m starting to look, and to take note each day of God’s manna-provisions for me and my family.  As my son received a welcomed rest from sports practices because of snow in April, I narrated for him how God was providing exactly what he needed—rest for his sore legs—in a way he least expected.

Just like the Israelites wandering in the desert, just like those seeking to hear Jesus teach when He fed over 5,000 people, just like Jesus' disciples in an overwhelming storm, and just like Martha struggling alone in her sea of stress, we sometimes wonder if God sees and cares.

Yes, God does see and He does care when we think no one else does.  Sometimes we get to catch a glimpse of His care through His loving provisions that come at just the right time.

And yet, after continually and so faithfully providing for us, could He just as sincerely ask us, Do you see, Do you care about all the heavenly-sent blessings you receive?

My prayer is that God will help me daily to see and be gratefully aware of His fresh provisions that often come in unexpected ways--my 'manna' from heaven.