Benefiting From "The Grain Of Heaven

SHORTLY after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites displayed a serious lack of faith in their Deliverer, Jehovah. As a result, Jehovah had them wander about in the wilderness of Sinai for 40 years. During all that time, the Israelites and the "vast mixed company" of aliens who joined them ate and drank " to satisfaction." (Exodus 12:37, 38;) Psalm 78:23-25 tells us how this was possible: "He [Jehovah] proceeded to command the cloudy skies above, and he opened the very doors of heaven. And he kept raining upon them manna to eat, and the grain of heaven he gave to them. Men ate the very bread of powerful ones; provisions he sent them to satisfaction."

As a partaker of the manna, Moses described this unique food. He wrote that in the morning after "the layer of dew evaporated. . . ., upon the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flaky thing, fine like hoarfrost upon the earth. When the sons of Israel got to see it, they began to to say to one another: 'What is it?' " Or literally in Hebrew, "man hu'?" This expression was probably the origin of the word "manna," the name that the Israelites gave the food. Moses said: "It was white like coriander seed, and its taste was like that of flat cakes with honey." -Exodus 16:13-15, 31 footnote.

The manna was not a naturally occurring food, as some argue. A supernatural force was involved in its provisions. For example, its availability was not limited to location or season. If kept overnight, it bred worms and began to stink; yet, the double portion that each family gathered on the day before the weekly Sabbath did not spoil overnight, so it could be eaten on the Sabbath-the day on which no manna appeared. Certainly, the manna was a miraculous provision. -Exodus 16:19-30.

The mention of "powerful ones," or "angels," in Psalm 78 suggests that Jehovah may have used angel to provide the manna. (Psalm 78:25, footnote) Whatever the case, the people had every reason to thank God for his kindness. However, most showed an ungrateful attitude toward the very One who delivered them from slavery in Egypt. We too may take Jehovah's provisions for granted or even become ungrateful if we fail to meditate on his loving-kindness. So we can be thankful that Jehovah included the record of Israel's deliverance and subsequent events for "our instruction." -Romans 15:45.

Next time: A Lesson For Israel Benefits Christians

Watchtower, 1999