THANKFUL FOR MANNA
Agradecido para Maná
by
Mary Hunt Webb
Posted Friday, September 30, 2016
Thanksgiving will be here before you know it! [Photographer: Nicolas Raymond. Photo courtesy of Stockvault.net.]
As the holidays approach, I remember the abundance that resulted a few years ago after my husband and I received a nineteen-pound turkey for Thanksgiving. We had invited several friends to share our bounty with us, but only three people had accepted. Since our guests had only wanted to take home a small part of the turkey meat, I froze the remainder in equal portions with the assurance that God had provided well for us.
At first, my husband was thankful we had been given a turkey. [Photographer: Ruel Castillo. Photo courtesy of Stockvault.net.]
Throughout our marriage, my husband has often complimented me on my ability to wisely use leftover food. Therefore, he was thankful for the first few meals of turkey. However, he eventually grew tired of turkey tacos, turkey tetrazzini, and other recipes designed to disguise the presence of the poultry. During the months that followed, he became convinced that the amount of turkey in our freezer was multiplying instead of decreasing!
About that time, my daily Bible reading took me to Exodus 16 in which the Israelites first complained about not having food after God freed them from slavery in Egypt. Then, after God miraculously rained down manna for them to eat every day, they complained about the boring sameness of their menu! (Numbers 11:4-6)
I looked for further references to manna and discovered that when God finally took the Israelites across the Jordan River to Canaan, the day eventually arrived when manna no longer appeared in the morning. Joshua 5:12 tells us, "The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year." (NRSV)
Not long after reading about manna, I began preparing a portion of turkey for our evening meal.
What? More turkey? [Photographer: Delicopsch56. Photo courtesy of Stockvault.net.]
When my husband asked what we were having for dinner, I answered, "Manna."
At first, he looked puzzled, but then a look of understanding spread across his face. Although the Hebrew word, "manna," means, "What is it?" he knew exactly what it was.
"Oh. Turkey," he responded without enthusiasm. "I'll be happy when we cross the Jordan River and move on!"
After that, I never heard another groan when I served turkey. My husband understood that God had provided free food for us when others were going hungry. All we had to do was to express our thankfulness.
BIBLE VERSES FOR THIS POSTING
Numbers 11:4-6 — 4) The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5) We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6) But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" (NIV)
Números 11:4-6 — 4) Y la gente extranjera que se mezcló con ellos tuvo un vivo deseo, y los hijos de Israel también volvieron a llorar y dijeron: !Quién nos diera a comer carne! 5) Nos acordamos del pescado que comíamos en Egipto de balde, de los pepinos, los melones, los puerros, las cebollas y los ajos; 6) y ahora nuestra alma se seca; pues nada sino este maná ven nuestros ojos. (Reina-Valera 1960)
Joshua 5:12 — The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year. (NRSV)
Josué 5:12 — Y el maná cesó el día siguiente, desde que comenzaron a comer del fruto de la tierra; y los hijos de Israel nunca más tuvieron maná, sino que comieron de los frutos de la tierra de Canaán aquel año. (Reina-Valera 1960)
We are thankful for God's provision. [Photographer: Marc. Photo courtesy of Stockvault.net.]
