Throughout the world, there are countless people without enough food to eat. Most of us in the United States have no idea what it means to be truly hungry. Even folks who live below poverty can still find food at food pantries and ministries throughout their cities and communities. But what it must be like to be in the desert, the wilderness, where your full reliance for food and water can only come from God. Without divine intervention, you will die of thirst and hunger; what then? What is today’s Exodus reading trying to teach those who have ears to hear?
As we reflect on the parables of Jesus in today’s reading, Jesus is giving us another illustration of what the kingdom of God is like. His teaching arouses bitterness in those who reject it and an intense craving for more for those who believe. Even those who believe are still much challenged by its teaching because it requires dying to self.
Both the Exodus story and the Parable teaching from Jesus bring home the same point. Quit putting your faith and trust in humanity and the things of this world to provide what you need. God will provide what you need but not always what you want. The Israelites were given meat in the evenings and mana in the morning. The mana was a wafer style of bread with a taste of honey. Mana and meat were all they had to eat for forty years. That’s right; they ate the same thing for forty years.
There are people worldwide who have little to eat or eat the same thing day after day and year after year. If you are in America, you have choices, even in the lowest of economic circles. Most of us have more than we need, and America throws away 30% of its food.¹ That’s right, billions of pounds of food wasted every year when it could have been used to feed the hungry.
As kingdom people, we have faith that our needs will be provided for by God. Our focus shouldn’t be on what we will eat but focused on who we can feed. Society has made a considerable dent in world hunger, but hunger still exists in alarming numbers. People always cry out to God for food, help, and liberation. Many Christians sit around waiting for God to do something, like rain down manna and meat on those who need it. That is not how the kingdom of God works. We are the hands and feet of Jesus, so we are called to rain down manna and meat on those in need and not kicking back enjoying our groceries and waiting for God to do His thing.
Scripture Readings
Reflection Questions
- What did you take away from today’s reflection and scripture readings?
- What is the hungriest you have ever been?
- Have you ever been in a situation like the Israelites where there was zero water and food for three days?
- How do you turn your will in life over to the care of God?
- When was the last time you took action to feed those in need?
- Describe in your own words what Jesus meant by the two parables from Matthew 21:23-46. What does this require of you as a proclaimed member of the kingdom?
Prayer
God of Love, Your kingdom is where we as kingdom people are responding to Your commandments. Grant me the wisdom to understand Your teachings on the kingdom and my role as a kingdom servant. Please help me do my part to feed those hungry by sharing my resources and finding more. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will and not mine be done. Amen.
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