The Gift of Manna and Quail

Morning frost, a mystery sweet,

Heaven’s flakes beneath their feet.

Gathered portions, none too small,

Enough for each, enough for all.

But hoarded fear decays to dust,

Daily bread requires trust.

( It reads in Exodus 16:13–21)

That evening, quails appeared. They covered all the ground round the tents. In the morning, there was dew on the ground round the tents. When the dew had gone, thin white pieces remained on the dry ground, there in the desert. It seemed like frost on the ground.  When the Israelites saw these pieces, they said, ‘What is it?’ They did not understand what it was. But Moses said to them, ‘This is the bread that the Lord has given to you. It is for you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: Each family must pick up as much as they need to eat. Pick up two litres for each person who lives in your tent.” ’ So the Israelites did this. Some of them picked up a lot of the food. Some of them picked up only a little food. But when they measured the right amount, everyone had enough to eat. The person who had picked up a lot did not have too much. And the person who had picked up only a little food still had enough to eat. Each person had picked up what he needed. Then Moses said to them, ‘Do not keep any of it until the morning.’But some of the people did not listen to Moses. They kept part of the food until the morning. But worms appeared in it, and it began to have a bad smell. Then Moses was angry with those people. Each morning, everyone picked up as much food as they needed. But when the sun became hot, the food would melt away.

Father God, I praise You for the Manna given freely and thank You that Jesus came to earth and turned my disobedience into sweetness and saved me by grace through faith in Him. Keep me low at the Cross and broken before You. This I ask in Jesus Precious Name, Amen.