Text: Exodus16 The Manna Miracle
In the midst of our wilderness places, God finds a way to insert a little humor or some nice surprise – light and sweet as manna in the dewy morning.
“What is it?” Those were the first words out of the Israelites’ mouths when they saw the white, flaky substance on the ground in the midst of the wilderness. The morning dew fog had lifted, and there on the ground was the answer to their prayers the day before about being hungry.
“What’s it?” A question; It’s a natural reaction by them. If you walked out one morning after the dew had lifted to see this delicate, cracker-like coating on the grass, you’d wonder what it is, too. Scholars trying to find a natural explanation behind a supernatural provision have speculated that manna might have been the dried sap of a tree fallen off…or was it the crystalized honeydew of insects… or could it have been a kind of lichen found on trees? Or was it just some white, bready, chewy stuff literally fallen from the sky, provided by God, sort-of-like the airdrops of basic food supplies we do in modern times to feed desperate people in war-torn lands or cut-off places after storms? But God’s aid came unpackaged. Ready to serve! Regardless of what the manna was exactly—the point is that the Israelites suddenly have something to eat, after recently making a wilderness plea to Moses for exodus-walking food. Another point is of the intriguing part of this story on the way the Word has some humor in it about God’s own sense of things.
What? God could have a sense of humor? Really? Hear it in the story. God may be teasing a bit in his response of the manna. The situation was this–The Israelites had escaped slavery in Egypt and they watched Moses part the waters of the sea so they could cross on dry land. Miracle. Then after three days in the hot desert, they tasted sweet water miraculously purified. Miracle. You’d think by now they would know that God’s got their back.
But no. What they want to do is turn back to Egypt in their noting of food shortage. They say how they so want for the ‘meaty stews and hearth-baked bread of Egypt.’ Even though that food came at the cost of their freedom! Didn’t they recall that part?! And, truth be told, it’s likely that they got nothing like meaty stews or fresh bread but more like the scraps of their oppressors from their tables.
But now with crying babies and children whining for food, those Egyptian scraps are looking pretty good from out here in the desert. So think the weak-of-faith pilgrims on this long hoped-for way back home to Israel—they have reservations.
So God gets an idea.
God instructs Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you.” He says so after 10 plagues and those towering sea walls that collapsed and swept away their chasing army of Pharoah after them. It’s like God tells Moses: ‘I think you know I’m good for it. I got this. Mo’!’
There’s a scene from a classic Christmas movie called A Christmas Story (the one with Ralphie and the Red Ryder BB gun). He wakes up Christmas morning to see that the world is covered in fresh new snow, with angelic harp music glistening in the background. His big blue eyes fill with wonder and his round cheeks flush red with excitement.
I would like to think that’s how the Israelites should have responded to yet another miracle from God. But instead, they look at it suspiciously and ask, “What is it?”
I can see them gingerly touching it. Plucking a few pieces from the ground. Giving it a wrinkle-nosed sniff.
“What is it?
And God says, “Yes, that’s exactly what it is.”
You see, in Hebrew the words man hu literally mean, “What is it?” Manhu – manna.
It’s a pun–really! God is poking fun at the Israelites!|
What we have is like Abbot and Costello’s comedy routine, “Who’s on first?”
“What is it?”————–Yes.—————“I mean what’s it called?”——-What is it.
“Well, that’s what I’m trying to find out. What is it?” ——– You’re exactly right.
“Arrgh! What is the name of this stuff? What is it?!!”
That’s what I’m trying to tell you, says God. That’s exactly the name of it. The name of it is: What is it?—————-“Huh?”———Just try it – take a nibble.
“Hmm, crispy, flaky, a hint of sweetness! And a bunch of them fills up the belly as great emergency food. Great. I guess you are looking out for us after all, God.”
For me, this What’s It/Manna moment at the Exodus is one of the lighter moments in the Bible. Or, at least, affording us to have a light ‘take’ on how the manna provision really was to those needy pilgrims.
The wilderness run of the Jews was not really a laughing matter, but there was joy in this against-the-all odds-Exodus event really now succeeding. God’s people were finally out of bondage, out of Egypt. But the Jews were complaining again, focusing too much on themselves and comforts. The had taken there eyes (of faith) off the amazing deliverance going on, and put focus on their bellies.
So God brings a sign to them again, but a small one, and with some levity.
For God’s point of view, He must have wondered: What more do I have to do to be convincing?! This is a freedom march!
So then He brings along this moment to put an exclamation point on the Exodus. Hello, My People!! The God Who brought you a Moses deliverer out of a floating baby basket on the Nile. The God Who got him in position to do something to set the Jews free, finally after 400 years of servitude. The God Who brought the plagues to shake up Pharoah. The God of the Blood on the Doorposts to have you marked as Mine, for the Angel of Death to pass by. The God Who opened the sea for you. The God Who closed the sea at just the right time, upon your pursuers. All big effects! And you don’t believe yet?! Here’s a little one for you in a little white piece of food. How’s that?!
What’s it? Exactly. It’s your Manna, your daily bread for now.
One of the things I like about this part of the Exodus story is that it reminds us all that not only does God not abandon us when we’re in our wandering wilderness times, but that God does not abandon a sense of humor either—in His dealing with us. After all the Israelites’ shenanigans or all our own in being difficult with God—even though He’s working His aid to us–I think that God knows that sometimes it’s the lighter moments that get us through. Here’s some what’s it for ‘ya! Hey pilgrim, can you just laugh and accept the next gift of God, even in something of a little surprise?
These moments – light and flaky and sweet as manna in the morning dew – remind me that even in the midst of the wilderness, a glad moment can still be found. (My homily point from the start.
God intervenes—in some surprise, and in answer to our basic need or cry.
It’s was the last parking spot on the last ferry shuttle of the night from Cape May to Lewes, Delaware. It had been taken by a couple in a BMW sedan, and they had a reservation, while you did not. So being one vehicle short of fitting on the ferry vehicle and people transport–you were left in the parking lot. No shuttle until next morning. But you had a Delaware hotel reserved for this night (on the other sea side) and then a morning wedding the next day in Bethany Beach. To wait to catch the next morning’s first shuttle across the Delaware Bay at 9 a.m. means a surely late arrival to the wedding. To avoid that, you’d now have to take the very long driving route up to the Delaware Memorial Bridge and then coming down Delaware’s highways on the other side—so to arrive at 4 a.m. (estimated) and be seriously short on sleep tomorrow! You should’ve planned this trip out better!
But just on a whim, you pray: Lord, can you help me here? I know You probably can’t stop that ferry, now 100 yards out and away?! I don’t know?! Maybe you can figure out how to come to my aid! But, I’m praying here! So, at least, can you keep me awake for this long trip around? I’m tired! Tomorrow I’ll be a wreck!
You had not remembered how God already helped you get off for this weekend, against all odds. How God also got this couple together, against all odds, leading to this wedding. How you got asked to be in it—your first time as a bridesmaid! How you won a little prize money in a contest back 3 months ago to afford this trip and the wedding gift? That you convinced your aunt, somehow, to watch your cats for the weekend—even though it was a crazy request to expect her to agree to it—but she did! That you almost forgot your license, but remembered it when you saw that patrol car on your street, aware suddenly that you’d left it in the house?! Wow.
Now you see that ferry boat transport suddenly turn around and come back to the Cape May point. That the BMW and couple has to depart the ferry because a pregnant passenger on it suddenly felt a first pang of childbirth, even while she wasn’t due until next month? That ‘alarm’ of a possible childbirth coming had turned the ferry back to port. Now there was room on it for one more car. Yours. You get on and go into a giggle fit about it. The ferry heads over. All’s worked out.
The Lord says: “What’s it you needed from Me?!”
A few times it does happen like that—because God has a sense of humor.
Other times, God sends down the manna and His provision will be always just enough to get through the day or comingdays. Daily Bread. Manna. It’s in some other form—but it comes. The Eucharist is the physical sign of: God’s Here. The Eucharist is The Sign that the Word came among us and became man. God’s Here. Then in the Last Supper, Jesus takes it much further. Passover to Passover Supreme. What’s it I’ve sent you?! It’s a little white host or some wine to sip? Is that all? No, it’s become the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus. God’s Here. Here’s your New Manna Sign. It is provided to surely help you along. New Manna.
Is it only bread and wine? Not so after the Last Supper and the consecration in every Mass. Just like Jesus was not only mere man, but Divine in His life with us. He had to be! Or else His Sacrifice at Calvary would fall or fail in earthly shortness.
But this is the New Exodus. It will succeed because of Who Jesus is. That God is with the Blessed Son of Man on earth, even in Him. Emmanu-El!
Same too with the Eucharist. It may not look like much. A little host by a cup of wine. Yet it is the Real Presence of a Mighty God, in His Christ, by His Spirit, working a wonder to you, hoping that you notice His favor, even if come in smallness. God really does care for you. There’s nothing small about that!
So let us catch on that we are in an Exodus of freedom, and we have Manna in Jesus for the journey. Yes it’s an eventual exodus out from a broken down world with so much we have to handle over that’s all messed up. Sin has done much damage, too. Yet God’s got your back, pilgrim! Really. Especially in the ending part: He’s good for it. Gloriously good! Not to be underestimated on his delivery power for your need.
Homily Done.
Something extra on the matter…. A field trip to take in this homily message.
In the DC Basilica to Mary, in the Eucharist of Repose chapel to the west side of the main altar space, a shimmering Baldachin cascades from the ceiling, representing God’s coming down to bless His people. It reminisces of Moses seeing the manna ‘falling from heaven’ — God’s provision to the faithful. The pieces in the screen coming down off the Balchachin/roof are laid on a golden mesh display of what the Exodus pilgrims (Exodus chapter 16) might have seen in the “what’s it?” bread to feed them. Since it is placed right over the tabernacle and altar area, this artwork points to Christ and His Eucharist as the new manna coming down to bring Grace to us in Sacrament.
Here from the side view one can see the ‘manna screen’ better. Neat!
I thought you’d like to know this church art exists close by to us, all pertaining to this Exodus reading of our weekend. ###