Is manna a boy or a girl?

The rain outside was pouring in candy taffy sheets this morning.  My kiddos wanted to know exactly what we were going to do.  After breakfast I told them we were going to read together. I heard a faint sigh…

For our reading we took turns in the Bible with Numbers chapter 11.  We didn’t get very far because the fourth verse spoke volumes and it tied together with the scripture that Samuel and I read together last night (Galatians 1:6-10).  I wanted to finish tying the bow so the children could see what I saw with these two different readings.

Here is the first x. (The beginning step in tying your shoe.)

Numbers 11:4 reads “Now the mixed multitude (a mixed crowd; others who joined the Israelites.  Rabble.) who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat?”

Galatians 1:6-7 reads “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

The first loop. 

Words spoken.  Attitudes shared.  Complaining. Criticizing.  The mixed multitude were tired of the manna.  They wanted meat.  After a while, their complaining rubbed off on the Israelites.  The Israelites in turn started complaining.  They had forgotten all that God had already done for them, taught them, and decided that it wasn’t enough.

The second loop.

The good news, the gospel had been taught.  The church was growing.  The Father sent, in Jesus name, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to teach us all things and remind us of everything that Christ has done for us.  Others began to speak a different gospel.  They shared an attitude that what Christ did on the cross wasn’t enough.  Rules and traditions began to take shape in the church.  Hence Paul marveled (wondered) at those Christians who had so quickly forgotten what Christ had done. They began being conformed by those who brought trouble, by complaining and criticizing others ~ instead of sharing the gospel that had been given them; the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Bow Tie.

How do you know what is true?  Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (in God’s Word), that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  His written Word can be held in your hand.  The Bible is more than just stories.  It’s the greatest book of literature ever written.  The only Book that still changes and impacts lives and has done so for more than 2,000 years.

In the exact middle of the Word is Psalm 118:8.  Do you know what it reads?

I am going to let you look it up.

My encouragement to you?  If someone speaks to you about the Word; Dig in and find the truth for yourself. Keep your Bible handy.  It’s the tool too live by.  It’s the manna that feeds us everyday.

Let me tell you even though my youngest son, Samuel, had heard me speak of manna before, his question surprised me.  Samuel sat at the table directly across from me and said, as serious as a heart attack.  Is manna a boy or a girl?  Samuel, it’s food.

The light bulb came on.  It was a joyful moment.

So what are you waiting for?  Go ahead, get a bite.

(Scripture was taken for the NKJV referenced from the website blueletterbible.org)