Manna from heaven

God is always way ahead of us.

When I was going to buy Rachel’s engagement ring, I saved my money so I could afford it.

When I was going to buy my new computer, I saved my money so I could afford it.

When I was going to buy Rachel’s engagement ring, I saved my money so I could afford it.

We plan and look ahead. It’s what we do.

In we see how God thinks way in advance.

Exodus 13:17–18 NLT

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

God didn’t just act reactionarily here. He planned ahead. He wanted to put the entirety of the Red Sea between the Israelites and Egypt because He knew they may try to go back.

We read this after only a month in the wilderness:

Exodus 16:1–3 NLT

Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”

HANGRY STORY

But have you every been hangry?

Once I saved up for the engagement ring and asked Rachel to marry me (and she said yes) it was time for all the wedding things. Once of those was WEDDING REGISTRY at TARGET and BED BATH AND BEYOND… Wedding registry making is exhausting! We got about 60% of the way through BB&B and Rachel was DONE! She was whining, complaining, didn’t care about anything (I registered for so many random things! It was great!) but I quickly realized she was just hangry. So, I bought her some chocolate covered pretzels, gave her a couple minutes to eat them, and then we were good. We finished out BB&B and were great!

It’s pretty easy to judge them here..

But have you every been hangry?

All you think about is food!

All you want is food!

So, let’s look at verse 3 again:

Exodus 16:3 NLT

“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”

The Israelites are simply thinking all about food!

They’re HANGRY!

But, God wasn’t going to let them die in Egypt and much less starve in the desert.

Cracker Barrel Meal Paid For Story

God is a God who provides.

When I was in middle school my mom quit her job because, well, my mom just changes jobs a lot.

My dad then lost his job a month or so later. So my family went from what some would call rich to unemployed in a matter of a month.

Through this entire time I got to see God provide. I remember one day in particular that my parents had saved money and saved money so that we could go to the movies and out to dinner. We were at dinner after the movie and we went to Cracker Barrel. As the meal ended the waiter came by to tell us that we were good to go that the couple at the table next to us had paid our bill.

We looked over at them and there sat an elderly, white haired couple smiling at us. When we made eye contact they simply said, “we overheard your son praying for the meal and were just so thankful that there are parents like you it was the least we could do.”

We thanked them and then left the restaurant.

God Provides. Period.

Exodus

In the very next verse in we see how true this was for the Israelites:

Exodus 16:4–5 NLT

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.”

Exodus 16:11–14 NLT

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ ” That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew. When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground.

Ex.

Exodus 16:31 NLT

The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers.

Manna literally means “what is it”.

No one can explain manna. It’s like the mystery meat in your school cafateria!

The Israelites had a hard time trusting God.

Exodus 16:19–20 NLT

Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.

Exodus 16:27–28 NLT

Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?

The people’s distrust was frustrating to God then just as it is now

But He never stops providing.

He provided the Israelites with temporal food.

In John we see that he has provided us with eternal food.

John 6:48–56 ESV

I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

John 6:48–58 NLT

Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked. So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

John 6:48–51 NLT

Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

John 6:57–58 NLT

I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

Jesus is God’s gift to US.

God provided manna when the Israelites cried out for food.

When they cried out for a Messiah, God provided a baby boy.

God doesn’t always answer our prayers how we think He will.

God gave us a savior, deliverer, redeemer. But often we take God’s provisions, that manna from heaven, for granted.

Jesus isn’t just God’s gift to us…

Jesus is God’s gift to EVERYONE.

When I was your age a group of my friends decided we were going to get together to go to the movies, yes, the movies was our choice form of entertainment because there was literally NOTHING ELSE TO DO. However, as the day we decided on got closer I hadn’t heard any of the details so I asked Aaron when we were going to which he said, “We went on Saturday.” I was crushed! I hated being left out!! But I was...

This wasn’t the case with Jesus.

We see this in

John 6:51 NLT

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

If you were an Israelite and you were in the desert there was manna and quail for you.

I would bet that if you were in their shoes you wouldn’t protest and wait for “better food”.

Yet, we see people everyday who look at the provisions that God has given them, they shrug their shoulders, and keep waiting.

JESUS IS THE ANSWER

JESUS IS THE MANNA

But you can’t just pick up the manna, you have to eat it.

If I gathered manna every chance I got but never ate any, I would die.

We may come to church all the time. People see us there. We’re collecting manna. Church is where we find community with friends that may believe what we believe. We listen to lessons and talk in small group. We are collecting manna. We are learning, growing, and worshipping.

Those are all good things.

But none of that manna does us any good if we aren’t consuming it.

It’s easy to go pick up some manna. It can be harder to live off of that manna for what feels like an eternity

You’re here, so you’re picking up manna. But how can you consume it?

You must trust in Him.

Surrender to Him.

Then, do life with Him and with His people.

4 Practical things in doing life with His people:

Be Humble

Romans 11:36 NLT

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Be Honest

Luke 16:10 NLT

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

You weren’t created to be ashamed. You weren’t created to be a liar. You were created in the Image of God. Don’t be ashamed of that. You are imperfect. He is perfect. Don’t lie, don’t be ashamed, be proud of who HE is and who HE is making you.

Be Transparent

Don’t try to hide who God is making you. Don’t try to hide your shortcomings. Let other believers see who you really are so they can help you.

Be Open

Romans 14:10–12 NLT

So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance praise to God.’ ” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.

We don’t answer to one another. We answer to God. Be open to each other. encourage one another.