Bring on the Manna!

Every day, except for the Sabbath and that's a whole other story, God provided for His grumbling, rebellious, self-centered, golden calf-making, looking backward and not forward kids who just happened to be traveling through a desert with no food and drink.

The first time they grumbled, just three days after being emancipated from 400 years of hard, forced, slave labor, God gave them 12 springs of fresh water and 70 date trees.

Kind of significant to me is the number 70.  According to Biblical numerologists, the number 70 symbolized perfect spiritual order carried out with power.  From the onset of this journey, God was giving His kids the ability to operate smack dab in the middle of the desert in spiritual order and power!  They were no longer slaves.  They didn't have to act like slaves to their circumstances.  Yes, it was a desert.  Yes, they had no water.  But, yes, God was with them.  He desired to show them a better way of doing life - His way.  His way afforded them the luxury of rising above circumstances to obtain abundance from a good Father.  He just wanted, like any good, kind and caring parent, for His kids to trust Him.

Bellies emptied of fresh spring water and dates, they grumbled ... again.  This time, God in His kindness, again gave them food ... again.  Manna.  All they had to do was pick it up every morning.

Every morning, fresh sustenance for the day.
Every morning, a new reminder that breakfast was served.
Every morning, a parent providing for His children.
Every.  Morning.

I'm very much like my Israelite ancestors.  I need, every morning, a fresh reminder that God is God and I am not and He is in charge and what He does is for my good.

We are coming up on our one year anniversary of returning to the U.S.  What a year it has been!  I refuse to grumble because God has been so very good to our family.  We are entering the last days of our time in our temporary home.  Right now, I am unsure of our next landing space.

I had hoped we'd already be in a house.

But, I'm not.

And because I'm not, I need new mercy for every single day. I'm grateful.  I intentionally practice thankfulness.  However, my human"ness" sometimes just gets tired of not having what I want.  I want my own space.

However, I don't want to be a Bratt.  God was so good to his grippy kinds in the desert.  I know He is good to me.  All I need to do is keep my eyes on what He has promised, what I know will come, who I know Him to be, and wait expectantly for those mercies He gives me while I am in the waiting period.

He's good.  He doesn't have to be so gracious.  He doesn't have to give me mental clarity, spiritual insight, phone calls and reminders from friends of God's faithfulness ... but He does!  He's that good!

If I can learn anything from the grumblers in the desert ... focus.  Focus on the true character of God in the middle of circumstances that seem less than perfect.  Every morning new mercies.  Every morning new opportunities to grow in character.  Every morning being provided for by a good parent.

Bring on the manna!
Christina