The Herb Garden--Exodus 16:31
Day 5
So were the folks at Bruton Parish Episcopal Church fooled by Exodus 16:31 like I was?
Exodus 16:31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.
They’ve planted a herb garden right outside the back wall of the church and have erected a sign that describes 12 herbs or plants of the Bible in their garden with corresponding Scripture verses.
Exodus 16:31 mentions manna and coriander together so naturally, probably like most, I assumed that manna must be made of coriander seed.
It’s not.
Manna was white “like coriander seed”--not made of coriander seed.
Which then leaves me with the mystery of what manna is–exactly.
This is a small Scooby Doo type mystery, but it does exemplify how reading the Bible goes for me.
I think I know something, but then I don’t. I latch onto a familiar word or concept like “coriander” and rest there and sometimes never move off that assumption.
But like Scooby, Shaggy, and all the rest of those meddlesome teenagers, if I keep at Scripture and look around a bit, I can usually ferret out what I’m supposed to from God’s Word.
Manna actually means, “What is it?” and I think that’s an underrated bit of humor in the Old Testament.
Some Israelite picked up his or her manna and asked, “Manna?” and the Israelite next to them said, “Yes.”
Maybe the original Who's On First act. 🙂
Since stuff like the Great British Baking Show cracks me up, I find the possibility of this happening every day for 40 years while Moses and his people were wandering the desert to be the best kind of ironic humor.
I bet Moses was SO tired of these people after 40 years. I would have asked God to smite them by day 6.
Actually, I find the paleo-botanic explanation of manna to be as fascinating as God’s lesson to me and the Israelites that He provides what we need, when we need it.
Zvi Ron explains what the manna from God could be:
“ Accordingly, the Israelites named what they saw man because it looked like tamarix mannifera, a sticky, sweet substance excreted by scaly insects that feed on the sap of the tarfa tree, a kind of tamarisk, the biblical eshel. This substance contains glucose and protein and has been collected for generations by the Bedouin, who call it man. In many ways this substance is similar to the biblical manna; it melts in the sun, it hardens into white granules, and it can be used as a substitute for honey. It was well known in the ancient world and is mentioned by Josephus, who wrote: "it is a mainstay to dwellers in these parts against their dearth of other provisions." Moses had to explain to the Israelites that what they saw was not the natural sap-derived man, but a miraculous substance sent by God. The Israelites named the food they found after the natural man found in the desert. Abarbanel disputes this interpretation, stating that the natural substance called man by the Beduin is in fact named after the miraculous man, not the other way around. He prefers the interpretation that man means "gift." Even so, Arama's view was accepted by Benno Jacob and many modern scholars.”
For a more precise description of how manna is produced in the desert naturally by insects and flowering bushes see:
Manna revisited: A study of the mythological and interpretative contexts of manna.
But no matter the origin of manna or the word “manna” it really has nothing to do with coriander herb except someone in Exodus said manna looked LIKE coriander seed.
That’s how tricky Scripture can be.
There’s always a hidden meaning.
A careful subtext.
In this case, I should pray for my “daily bread” day-by-day and shouldn’t get frustrated with not understanding God’s timing.
I shouldn’t be in a hurry. God is not going to be tardy with me.
Dallas Willard writes in Renovation of the Heart:
“In the spiritual life one never rests on one’s laurels. It is a sure recipe for falling. Attainments are like the manna given to the Israelites in the desert, good only for the day. Past attainments do not place us in a position of merit that permits us to let up in the hot pursuit of God for today, for now.”
I have enough manna for this day and this day only.
I’m not promised tomorrow and you aren’t either.
Let’s get at our manna!
Lord, in our moments of uncertainty and doubt, help us to trust in Your promise to provide for us.
Lord, let us recognize Jesus as the Bread of Life who sustains us spiritually.
Amen.