Twice I’ve travelled to Jordan, Israel, and Egypt to visit those places where biblical history unfolded. I was young, barely a teenager, when I tagged along on a couple of church trips to the Holy Land. Those journeys were action packed and I’d love to take them again with several more decades of appreciation and knowledge. For now, memories and Rick Steves will have to suffice!
I recall the fun of visiting the Dead Sea and floating on the thick salt water. Soon after, our guide took us deep into the Sinai desert on a trip that seemed to last forty years. We arrived late in the night to Saint Catherine’s Monastery, spending a short night and rising long before dawn to hike to the summit of Sinai, where angels (Galatians 3, Acts 7) gave Moses the Ten Commandments.
On the trip out to the holy mountain, we felt like the Israelites and had been tricked out of civilization, only to die in the wilderness (Exodus 16, Numbers 21). There were no way stations, convenience stores, or restaurants – only rocks. We were not on foot, but cruised the paved highway in an air-conditioned Belgian-made motor coach. We had a restroom, cold soft drinks, reclining seats, tinted windows, and a card game going much of the ride out. Not so for Israel. They were on foot, in the elements, and had not been afforded an outfitting trip to the sporting goods store. No wonder they complained!
Pop quiz: What was inside the ark of the covenant? Don’t think Indiana Jones, but Scripture!
Aaron’s staff that budded, blossomed, and gave forth almonds when the church folks who weren’t in charge tried to take charge (Numbers 16-17) is listed. Two tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments were also inside (Hebrews 9). Finally, an urn containing some of the manna that God provided daily throughout the wilderness wanderings of Israel were kept as a reminder of God’s daily bread provision.
We sometimes ask Israel’s question, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?” (Psalm 78) On the long, desert road of life, we question his goodness, ability, provision, and can be quite ungrateful. When we pray, “Give us daily bread”, we ask for work, wages, and blessing. It is possible to work, only for our wealth to waste away and profit us nothing (Haggai 1). It is also possible for our meager provisions to outlast their normal lifespan (Deuternomy 8).
God tailor-makes our daily needs and meets them well. He clothes the lilies of the field (Luke 12) and feeds the ravens. His eye is on the sparrow and he has our hairs numbered. Sadly, we look over the fence and wish for a dash of this or some of that from what He has given our neighbor. Take some time to give thanks for God’s daily bread, looking forward to the day of everlasting provision from the river and tree of life (Revelation 22).