All manna of meals

But he spoke to the sky above
and commanded its doors to open;
he gave them grain from heaven,
by sending down manna for them to eat.
So they ate the food of angels,
and God gave them all they wanted. (verses 23-25)

Read Psalm 78:23-29

God may not give me food from heaven as he did for his Old Testament people wandering in the wilderness, but this last weekend I dined out alfresco and the food flooded onto my table.

Angel food doesn’t seem to be on the menus of the restaurants I eat at or on the shopping list my wife gives me. But I am completely overwhelmed by the variety of edible goodies on the shelves of the supermarkets and delicatessens, the fruit stalls and the markets, every time I go out to get groceries.

Manna from the Almighty doesn’t flutter down like snowflakes to whiten my lawn at night, but every morning, when I get up, the pantry is full and there is milk and bread on my table.

And even though my heart is dark with guilt and my actions continue to be perverse, each time I turn to God in repentance he rains down his forgiveness and gives me a new start.

Dear God, thank you for all the good things you give me­ food and drink as well as forgiveness and peace – just as you did to your people of old. Amen.

by Richard Hauser, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.