Heaven Sent
Sarah poked her head out of the family tent.
Following her brother outside, she looked around in amazement.
“What is it?” Joel asked.
Sarah shook her head.
Silently the kids examined the layer of white, flaky bread that covered the ground like frost.
Joel couldn't believe his eyes. “When God said He would rain down bread from heaven, I didn't expect this,” he said.
Squatting to get a better look, Sarah considered the miracle in front of them. “I guess the Lord hasn't forgotten us in this desert,” she said. “He really did hear our stomachs rumbling.”
“Try a bite,” Joel said, with a friendly jab of his elbow.
“You try a bite,” Sarah answered.
Joel carefully picked up a small wafer and put it on his tongue. His eyes brightened. “Yum,” he smiled. “It's sweet.”
“Hey,” Sarah said, standing up, “Mom and Dad are going to the meeting. Let's go hear what God told Moses.”
They ran off, still amazed at the flakes of bread at their feet.
After the meeting with all of the Israelites, Joel and Sarah raced ahead of their parents to start gathering manna.
“Can you believe it?” Joel grinned. “Daily bread on the dry desert floor.”
Sarah shrugged. This was the same God who delivered them from Egypt, who parted the Red Sea, whose glory appeared in a cloud that very morning. So, she could believe it. God demonstrated faithful love for His people all the time — even if they forgot every now and then.
While Joel ducked into the tent, Sarah gathered a day's worth of manna for her family. “Thank You, Father, for this food,” she prayed quietly.
Psst. “Sarah, come here.”
Sarah turned and saw her brother peeking out of the tent. “What are you doing?” she asked.
Joel held up a jar. “I'm saving some manna for tomorrow.”
“What?” Sarah asked. “You heard what God told Moses. You're supposed to gather just what you need for today. God will send more tomorrow.”
“God helps those who help themselves,” Joel said.
Sarah wrinkled her nose. “I don't remember Moses ever saying that.”
“It seems like a good idea to plan ahead and make sure we have enough for tomorrow,” Joel argued. “At least I'll save time in the morning by gathering a little extra today,” he continued.
“I think listening to God might be more important than doing what seems to make sense,” Sarah said. “And God said no one is to keep any manna until morning.”
“It's just a little,” Joel said. “What's the big deal?”
Early the next day Sarah sleepily opened her eyes and glanced around the tent. Hearing her parents talking outside, Sarah stretched and turned over.
Suddenly wide-awake Sarah sat up straight, looked around and sniffed the air. “What is that?” she said out loud, holding her nose.
“What is what?” Joel yawned.
“That smell,” Sarah answered. “It's worse than Egyptian cobra cooties.”
Joel shrugged. “I don't smell anyth —” Aaack! Gagging like he had inhaled a fur ball, Joel winced, “What is that?”
“It's coming from over there,” Sarah said, pointing to the corner of the tent.
Joel's eyes grew wide as he realized what it was. “My manna!” he yelped, jumping up. He dug under blankets and pulled out the jar he had hidden.
Eeeew! Sarah cringed. “That is disgusting.”
Overnight the fresh, sweet manna had turned into a smelly, buggy mess.
“Wow,” Joel said, holding his nose. “Can you believe it?”
What Sarah couldn't believe was her brother. “Joel, you didn't listen to God. He created this manna and then told us exactly what to do. But you ignored Him and did what you wanted to do.”
Looking at the jar, Joel considered what his sister had said.
“Come on,” Sarah said, pulling her brother's arm. “Let's get rid of it.”
“I don't know,” Joel said. “Maybe I should keep it.”
“Keep it?” Sarah cried.
“It's a good reminder of the mess you make when you don't pay attention to God,” Joel explained.
Sarah looked at her brother and smiled. Then she looked at the jar and grabbed her nose again. “If you want to hang on to that mess, you'll have to sleep with the sheep.”
Peering in the jar Joel agreed. “How 'bout I just remember to always do what God says?”
“That's the best idea I've heard today,” Sarah said.