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EXODUS 15:22-17:7 Lesson 9: Murmuring and Manna
REMEMBERING
I was chatting with a member of my small group last week and when I mentioned
that I wasn't coming up with any new insights for this lesson, she very
wisely replied, "Don't worry about that; we
just need to be reminded." So there was my theme!
We remember how the Hebrews suffered under the Pharaohs.
We remember how increasingly deadly the plagues became.
We remember the dramatic crossing of the Sea of Reeds.
And now we are in the "desert where there is very little water
and hardly anything grows."
These stories comprise the foundation of our faith: stories that help us know
and experience that God will be there for us time after time.
Naturally, in the wilderness they encountered hunger and thirst. We read
that
they "complain" rather than "ask". Nevertheless, God provides because he
had covenanted with them. Their part was to
"pay attention to his commandments and keep his
statutes." (15:26) God doesn't merely satisfy their need; he
leads them to a place with twelve
water-springs, and 70 palm trees! (15:27) Talk about
over-the-top!
However, almost immediately when again they lack food, they complain to Moses.
It was as if they hadn't remembered anything of the past few months. And
we understand that they really were complaining
against God. Wasn't it amusing to read God's reply to
Moses: "Now I will rain down bread for you from the
heavens". (16:4) My mental picture was quite humorous.
Manna and quail--again an overabundance. "In the spring, a certain bug
(Trabutina mannipara E.) crawls into the trunk of the tamarisk trees;
eats the wood,
which is salty; and spews out a white, sweet, sticky substance that forms
into drops and falls to the ground. The
substance is edible, but if you don't pick
it up before midday it will melt. The residents of the Sinai call this
substance manna." (Bruce Feiler, "Walking the
Bible", p.90)
OMER: a small bowl; occurs only in the account of the collection of manna,
being used both of the measure itself and of the amount measured. The
OMER is equal to 1/10 ephah. (EPHAH is the name of a
vessel large enough to hold a
person.)
The Gift of the Sabbath: a day of complete rest, in honor of Yahweh.
"The root of the word occurs in Genesis (2:2) when God rested, literally
"ceased" from his labor. Thus appears the distinction between the six
days of labor and the one day of rest.
Interestingly, in Ex. 16:21-30 explicit mention is made of the sabbath in
connection with the giving of manna. The
sabbath is here represented as a gift of God
(29) to be for the rest and benefit of the people
(30). It was not necessary to work on the sabbath
(i.e. to gather manna) for a double portion had been provided on the
sixth day."
"Throughout the remainder of the Pentateuch the sabbath
legislation is found. It is interesting to note that
there is a reference to the sabbath in each of the
four last books of the Pentateuch. Genesis presents
the divine rest; the remaining books
emphasize the sabbatical legislation. This shows the importance of the
institution. Sabbath legislation, it may be said, is
integral and essential to the basic law of the
Pentateuch." (New Bible Dictionary, p.1042)
In Ex. 20, an additional reason was given for the observance of the Sabbath.
"Israel is commanded to observe the sabbath
day, in order 'that your manservant and your
maidservant may rest as well as you'. Here is a humanitarian
emphasis; but here also is emphasis upon the
fact that the sabbath was made for man. Israel
had been a slave in Egypt and had been delivered so Israel must show the
mercy of the Sabbath toward those in her own
midst who were slaves." (p.1042)
Sabbaths are given to us. We are free to choose how to use this gift. I wonder
if God would like us to use this day to think about
him and his creation. I wonder what it
might be like to spend the whole day with God. I wonder what it's like to
hear God's voice. I wonder if God knows who I
am. As we reflect on God's
promises, let us remember the faith stories of the Hebrew people
recorded in the Pentateuch which we can connect with our own faith
stories.
God, you give us grace through sacramental signs which
tell us of the wonder of your unseen power.
At the very dawn of creation your Spirit breathed on
the waters, making them the wellspring of all
holiness.
In the great flood waters you gave us a sign of the
waters of baptism, making an end of sin and a new
beginning of goodness.
Through the waters of the Reed Sea you led Israel out
of slavery, to be an image of God's holy people,
set free from sin by baptism. By the power of
the Spirit give to this water
the grace of your Son. You created me in your
own likeness; cleanse me from sin in a new birth of
innocence by water and the Spirit.
I ask you, Lord God, with your Son to send the
Holy Spirit upon me.
Springs of water, bless the Lord. Give the Lord glory
and praise forever. (portions of the Easter Vigil:
Blessing of Water from "Birth; a guide for prayer" by
Jacqueline Bergan and Marie Schwan)
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