August 8, 2018 Wednesday

“23  Yet He had commanded the clouds above, And opened the doors of heaven, 24  Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. 25  Men ate angels’ food; He sent them food to the full. 26  He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; And by His power He brought in the south wind. 27  He also rained meat on them like the dust, Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; 28  And He let them fall in the midst of their camp, All around their dwellings. 29  So they ate and were well filled, For He gave them their own desire.” (Psalm 78:23-29 NKJV)

            This passage looks at God’s provision for the children of Israel from a heavenly perspective. We are shown an amazing view of God’s provision for their need in response to their complaint.  We are not shown their complaints and criticisms but only God’s response.

            All that happens and what is given is by God’s command is revealed in very detailed steps.  Take time to list how God meets the needs of the children of Israel.        There are two statements we can look at deeper here.

“Men ate angels’ food” – God gave to the children of Israel the “bread of heaven” which rained down from heaven to meet their physical needs. Jesus would come as the “bread of heaven” to meet our emotional and spiritual needs. We may be able to grasp Jesus and manna are the “bread of heaven” but it is harder to grasp manna as the food of angels! There is amongst many people the misconception when Christians die, especially children, they become angels but biblically this is not true. In the New Testament it is very clear when Jesus returns we will have glorified bodies, not angelic bodies. God has a wonderful way of answering a question with a better question because while the answer could be “bread of heaven” that does not explain why this is angels food.

“For He gave them their own desire.” - Is used several times in the Bible and seldom is it used in a positive manner. Often it seems to imply God’s people complaining and whining until they get their way and God giving it to them and showing them the high price of wanting the wrong thing. This phrase is a frank reminder not only that our desires are wrong but there is a high cost when we fulfilled them. When a wrong road is chosen we miss the blessing God has for us as well as discovering the high cost of our desire.

            What is the difference in praying for a desire or a need? Are you being nourished through Jesus Christ who is the bread of heaven? Do you pray for the richer blessing of God’s will?

Tuesday was a very long and blessed day.  Vance Woodward came by and we had a long and wonderful time together.  Ken and Pat Herman came by and we also had a great time with them.  The Herman’s went by to see Asbury.  That night we took Bonnie for her birthday bash!