Monday, Sept. 23
Exodus 16:1-36 Read it here
Long before Jesus ever taught his disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” God had already shown what that looks like.
It wasn’t long after leaving Egypt that the people began to think that maybe they hadn’t had it so bad there. The Egyptians, who seem to have been remarkably efficient, would have made sure that their slaves had the food they needed to stay healthy – not as a matter of generosity, but to ensure productivity.
Safety and security is always the best way to lead people into slavery, whether it is formal legal slavery or more indirect servitude. The Romans would later speak of using “bread and circuses” to keep the populace in line. Today political and business leaders still use fears of both real and imagined threats to persuade people that obedience is a small price to pay to be kept safe and comfortable.
When water became scarce, as we read about yesterday, God provided water.
In today’s reading, God does the same with food.
With food, though, God also brings a test of faith by providing only enough for one day at a time, except for the Sabbath when he provides a two-day supply. When some of the people try to hoard the food, it rots.
If sin is defined as anything that separates us from God (which is my favored definition), I think this is one of the most challenging sins of our day.
I have to confess that I place far more trust than I should in my retirement accounts. That gives me a strong interest in preserving the “kingdom” of the economy when I should be concerned only for the Kingdom of Heaven.
How many of us have stayed in soul-crushing jobs for fear of losing a steady income and insurance? How many people are trapped in destructive relationships because of the financial risk of leaving?
We tell ourselves we are being prudent and responsible, but the line between prudence and fear is narrow and so blurry it sometimes disappears completely.
In the recent fracturing of Methodism it’s been impossible to miss the reality that many of the strongest congregations in our new church are those who lost their disaffiliation votes and had to walk away from churches and facilities they had invested time, talent, effort and money in for many years. They serve as an example to us that sometimes that we depend on ends up being a hindrance rather than a help.
Jesus repeatedly confronts people to “come and follow,” and warns of the impediment that possessions and illusions of security can be.
We wholeheartedly want God to give us this day our daily bread, but can’t resist the urge to hold back some for tomorrow.