12 February | Teens
«And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium…. And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil….And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it. » Numbers 11:7-9
When the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they faced many challenges, but one of the most difficult was finding food. Just imagine, thousands of people in the middle of nowhere, with no supermarkets or restaurants nearby! That's when God sent a special gift from heaven: manna. Manna was a type of bread that fell from heaven every morning except on the Sabbath.
If the Israelites tried to save manna for the next day, it would rot and become full of worms. What's more, it got all stinky! Yuck! However, there was an exception for the Sabbath! On Fridays, God miraculously sent twice as much manna, ensuring that everyone had enough for the holy day of rest, the Sabbath.
This miracle teaches some important things. First, it shows how God takes care of our daily needs. Second, it reminds us of the importance of the Sabbath, a special day to rest and spend time with God and our families. Preparing for the Sabbath, as the people of Israel did on Fridays, is a way of showing respect and love for this special day and for our Creator!
Take Action
Starting this week, start preparing better for the Sabbath. Help your parents cook something special on Friday, so it's your “double manna”! Not only will this help you remember God's care for the people of Israel, but it will also make the Sabbath even more special for you and your family.