In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,
and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert
were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
On seeing it, the children of Israel asked one another, “What is this?”
for they did not know what it was.
But Moses told them,
“This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.” (Ex 16:13b-15)
We have to be very careful when we ask the Lord for anything. Because when we ask, we have to be ready for His response. And we can practically guarantee that it will not be the manner in which we were expecting.
It’s like a teenager asking his parents for some transportation so that he doesn’t have to depend upon them driving him all over the place. Asking for “transportation,” the teen expects a nice, used car. To his surprise, the next day, he receives a bicycle.
Hey, it’s transportation, isn’t it?
In today’s reading, the Israelites were grumbling because they were going through the dessert and were starving. Food was scarce. They complained loudly to Moses.
So, God fed them.
But the “food” that they were expecting was not the food that they received.
“Man-na” — which literally means “What is this?!” — was given to them.
God listens to us. He hears our need. And He responds.
It’s up to us to discern the manner in which He responds.
FAITH ACTION: Our prayers may have become more petition than anything else. In prayer today, take the time to thank the Lord for the many ways He has responded to your prayers already.