Next Week's Sermon is from Exodus 16:2-15. It is the story of how God provided bread for the people as they wandered in the Wilderness.
Verses I like:
"Then the Lord said to Moses, "I am going to rain bread from heaven for you" (Ex. 16:4)
"The Lord spoke to Moses and said, "I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God." (Ex. 16:12)
Questions I have:
How did the Israelites feel when they heard these words? How would I feel, if I were one of them?
What are modern-day parallels to "bread from heaven"?
The people were not allowed to hoard the bread, but were only allowed to take enough for that day. I sometimes feel that I/the church also fall prey to this hoarding mentality. How can we use God's gifts & resources more effectively?
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16 comments:
Accepting that the Lord will provide is a tough thing for us to do, given that we are directed (outside of church) all through our lives to be self-reliant. I find it a constant struggle, giving up what I want for what God determines I need. Faith requires vulnerability, trust in God.
Pam
Just considering the logistics of feeding a couple of million people for one day, much less forty years, is mind boggling. I have a feeling that most of the Israelites started questioning the logic of fleeing their settlements in Egypt to starve in the desert - even after the pillars of cloud and fire and the Red Sea wonders - hunger and thirst will cause you to forget everything for that next bite of food or drink of water. even though we "know" that God is in control, we act as if it's up to us to survive. we think the more we work, the more money, the more "security".
I think the evil one distracts us with hunger and thirst for things that are temporal. the physical things. Jesus said, blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness. He mentioned the source of food and water that the apostles knew nothing about, the living water, He prayed for daily bread. the bread of life. broken for you. so many of the stories of the Bible are about eating and drinking. our most basic sensibilities. I think that's what's powerful about fasting - it gets our attention..."fast". hey, a pun. ryhmes with bun. I love fresh homemade bread. right out of the oven. with melty butter. I'm hungry.
I think it's all about our perspective. we sang "God will take care of you" but do we believe it? not usually. we worry about tomorrow. Jesus said, dont. Seek first the kingdom of heaven, and all these "things" (food, water, clothes) will be supplied.
we worry about our future all the time. our lack of savings, college funds, 401k... that can be overwhelming when you're living from paycheck to paycheck.
how can we connect Jesus' words to our daily physical needs?? i think the apostles thought Jesus was out of touch with reality sometimes. then he'd feed 5,000 with 5 pieces of bread.
"you give them something to eat" what's that mean?
"you fed me when I was hungry"
are we talking food now?? or spiritual encouragement?
one day at a time.
After 400 years of slavery depending upon my captors for survival (Stockholm syndrome) thinking that God had forgotten me, I would find it hard to take "raining bread" too literally. Starving to death in the desert though, I would jump on the hope of figurative plenty! Bishop Jung has encapsulated this internal war of the spirit of scarcity versus the spirit of abundance in his Fruit Producing Strategies; the bird not in the hand (hunger and fear) often blinds us to the covey of birds in the bush.
As Abba, our Father, God wants us to live an abundantly loving, merciful, compassionate, grace-filled life. As our Maker, He knows our weaknesses, and understands our fears. Therefor, instead of condemning us for our spirit of scarcity, He continually and repeatedly offers us His abundance, so that we can do the same.
Israel was preventing from hoarding manna. Hoarding reflected a lack of faith and trust in God's Word. But note that extra could be stored up in advance of the sabbath. Saving is appropriate then, if it serves God's purpose rather than our own. As John Wesley said "Make all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can."
It is easy for me to condemn stiff necked Israel in the wilderness from my seat in the promised land, but I instead convict myself; scripturally "Israel" represents all of us in the family of God. Is my own patience, understanding and ability to reach out to those huddled in the dark at the edge of the Red Sea barrier so scarce that I can not share? God gave me an infinite supply, so why am I so frugal?
here's an interesting insight on manna. I've seen other interesting manna theories about magic mushrooms, but I'll let you research that...
http://wanderingflower.blogspot.com/2008/06/modern-manna.html
"Fairy-rings" springing from night.
Toad-stools circling in the light.
Thriving on poisonous chemistry.
Swelling life; fungal fecundity.
Morning manna in a toxic world.
Emblems of grace for us unfurled.
How is it we can tell what we want from what we need? I am a hoarder to a great extent but not because I need so much to be happy. I think of the stuff I keep back as useful stuff for the future. I tell myself someone may need this. If I get rid of it how will they have it when they need it. But of course I can't ever find it when they need it. God must somehow feel that way. He gives us so much and yet when we need it we don't have it. We beg for his help. If only I could have the faith to live simply and trust God to guide me. How much better off I'd be!
John 6:25-36 Jesus = Manna
manna = cheese-burgers?
http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Exodus_16
"They so undervalue their deliverance, that they wish, they had died in Egypt, nay, and died by the hand of the Lord too. That is, by some of the plagues which cut off the Egyptians; as if it were not the hand of the Lord, but of Moses only, that brought them into this wilderness. 'Tis common for people to say of that pain, or sickness, which they see not second causes of, It is what pleaseth God, as if that were not so likewise which comes by the hand of man, or some visible accident. We cannot suppose they had any great plenty in Egypt, how largely soever they now talk of the flesh-pots, nor could they fear dying for want in the wilderness while they had their flocks and herds with them; but discontent magnifies what is past, and vilifies what is present, without regard to truth or reason. None talk more absurdly than murmurers." John Wesley
Give us this day our daily bread...
I liked that the liturgist and the pastor gave background and context for both of the readings, and that the sermon linked the two.
In retrospect, we missed an opportunity for a meaningful communion experience: manna=bread; and post-baptismal community=communion.
The sermon was well delivered, and the personalization with the wormy brocolli was excellent! :) The sermon was generic to the human condition, which is probably the best strategy for a new pastor. As I listened and then later reflected on the message, I was split between seeing ourselves as Israel and as the wormy brocolli...
I would just like to say thanks to the Gibbon for his outstanding participation on this blog. An original poem to boot.
I too agree that the wormy broccoli illustration was perfect. very engaging and earthy. I was eating raw broccoli once, and after several chomps, I looked crosseyed at the half eaten bunch and saw a bright green (camoflauged against the broccoli) caterpillar friend looking back. It is at those moments you wonder what you just ingested a few moments before. good protein.
The statement about the fresh provision from God vs. holding on to our wormy possessions was most powerful. Pastor, I forgot how you put it, do you recall?
looking fwd to this weeks conversation.
wow. i just looked up the CEILING CAT bible link. Huh??! someone actually did the entire thing in catese? waay too much time on some cat's hands. or was that a gibbon in disguise?
Yes, Mark, I too liked Pastor Becky's observation about us holding on to the maggoty possessions of this world instead of looking for Jesus, the truly valuable.
(I'll be thinking of creepy crawly things next time I am in a store...)
Also, re: the gibbon's comment about the liturgist and Pastor Becky giving the context of the scripture readings--excellent! That is a great way to educate all of us in the pews. I know it helps me to understand the reading better and I appreciate hearing the "background."
Next time, I'd be interested in reading about the input of the Brown Bag Bible Bunch.
Are we hound-dogs? Read this and see what you think: http://questingparson.typepad.com/questing_parson/2008/09/what-is-it-anyw.html; or go to http://questingparson.typepad.com and then go to the Sept. 20th entry.
Ahwoooooo.....
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