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Awww Mom! Manna Cakes Again?!?
Numbers 11
1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.
3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.
4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
7 And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.
8 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.
(Announce title of Message) Awww Mom! Manna Cakes Again!
I. Exodus 16 tells us that the Children of Israel ate manna for 40 years.
-It rained down 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year. Which is about 313 times per year.
-If you take 313 X 40 you get 12520.
-Which means that the children of Israel ate A LOT of manna.
-The Bible tells us they beat it, ground it, baked it.
-I’m sure there was even a cooking guide published…
“The Essential Manna Cookbook”
-Maybe there were “Cook Off Competitions”
-Blue ribbon prizes for the best “Manna Pie” or “Manna Soufflé”
On a more serious note..
-It tasted like fresh oil… (that’ll preach)
-In another verse, it’s likened to the taste of a wafer with honey on it.
-But, the Israelites grew tired of the manna.
-The got too comfortable with it…-Then they got bored with it.
-Soon, it was no longer an amazing act of God’s provision, it was “just Manna”
-Good old, ho hum manna, laying on the ground every morning.
-They got to be so familiar with the manna that they begin to be displeased by it.
-It no longer satisfied their desire.
-They got so bored with it that they wished they were back in bondage, just so they could eat fish, onions, leeks and garlic.
-Church, be careful not to complain about the provisions of God Almighty..
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II. Reading from 2 Samuel 6:4-7
“4And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah,
accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
6And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
7And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.”
-We have here Uzzah struck dead for touching the ark.
-Uzzah is one of Abinadab’s sons. (Ahio the other)
-The ark had previously been located in Abinadab’s house.
-No doubt that Uzzah and Ahio had handled the ark before, as they were familiar with it being in their presence.
-So Uzzah and Ahio, having been used to attending to the ark, undertook the task of driving the cart to it’s new home.
- By some accident or other the ark was in danger of being toppled over. And Uzzah laid hold of it, to save it from falling.
-There is sound reason to think that he did this act with very good intentions, to preserve the reputation of the ark.
-Uzzah's offence seems very small, if not, altogether insignificant
-Perhaps Uzzah’s familiarity with the ark and the constant attendance he had given to it in his fathers home, made it seem acceptable to him for his action.
-Maybe it was pure gut reaction. But it still was not permissible according to the Law of God.
-Uzzah was too comfortable with the Presence of God.
-It was so familiar
-It was like, “Manna Again” to him.
-His failure to be careful and reverence the Presence cost him his life!
-I think it can be safely said that we, in Pentecost today, are much too comfortable with the Presence of God.
-The newness of manna in the morning has worn off
-We are so familiar with the Presence of God that we can come into Church and leave the same way and never realize that “He was here!”
-Oh! Hello Lord, we’re so glad to see you again today.
-Notice, if you will, the person who feels the Presence for the very first time. -They could be weeping, or trembling and come under such a great conviction, while the rest of us sit around and wonder when we can get out to eat!
-I’ve come to ask you today, Do You Still Love The Manna?!?!
-Do You Still Hunger For More Of His Presence?!?!
-Or Is Church Just Another Weekly, (or Bi-Weekly) Event In Your Life!
-Has The Monotony of Everyday Life Buried The Importance of Your Personal Relationship with Jesus?!?!?!
-Do You Still Love The Manna!?
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-David did not know what to do, once Uzzah was struck dead
-He named the place Perez-Uzzah, which means “the Breach of Uzzah”
-They parked the ark at Obed-edom’s house, which was nearby the scene.
-David goes home to sulk and think about Plan B.
-The next thing that we read is that Obed-edom’s house is being blessed, and increased.
-See, Obed-edom hadn’t ever had a visitor in his house much like the Presence of the Lord.
-He was sure to give it a place of prominence in his home and to reverence it properly, according to God’s commands.
-The results of his actions were entirely different that Uzzah.
-Church we ought not be too comfortable with the Presence of God!
-We better never get to place where we prefer comfortable Church!
-We better never get to place where our relationship with the Lord is too casual! Too Familiar!
-My Prayer is for a Baptism of Fresh Oil!
-A Fresh Oil Anointing from the Throne of Heaven!
-Ecclesiastes tells us that dead flies in the ointment of the apothecary causes the ointment to send out a bad smell.
-Maybe it’s time we got some fresh oil!
III. In Job 29, the first 17 verses speak of the place where Job once was.
-He talks of the position of Honor he held.
-He talks of how he did so many things to help the poor, the fatherless and the helpless.
-He speaks of causing the widow’s heart to sing with joy, and how he was eyes to the blind, feet to the lame, father to the poor and so on…
-In verse 17 he breaks the jaws of the wicked and yanks the spoil out of their teeth. (a real Robin Hood!)
-Then he gets to verse 18 and begins with “Then I said, I shall die in my nest”.
-Job got too comfy with his station in life.
-I like it right here…
-I’m not gonna move…
-Things are good here…
-They feel good here…
-I know what to expect…
-I am in my Comfort Zone…
-Oh, Pastor, don’t ask me to do that, that’s out of my comfort zone…
-Oh, God don’t ask me to do that, or say this, or go there… I am not comfortable with that…
-Oh God!
-Don’t let us get so encumbered with the things of this world!
-Don’t let us get so enamored with our safety and comfort that we forget your Word, Your Promises and Your Provision!
IV. In Exodus 1:6 – 11, the Bible says
6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. 8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.”
9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
-It is widely accepted that Egypt is the Biblical representation of sin.
-It is said that when you left Egypt you went “Up” out of Egypt, no matter the direction you were headed.
-Isn’t it interesting that the same Egypt that saved Israel, Also Enslaved it.
-I feel like Israel got too comfy in Egypt.
-Egypt helped it through the famine and then put them in chains.
-Israel should have left and went back home.
-But things were too good for them in Egypt.
-If you are not filled with God’s Spirit Tonight then let me tell you that is exactly how the world will treat you even today.
-It will pat you on the back, make you feel good, and then bind you in chains of slavery.
-It will tell you that your answer lies at the bottom of the bottle!
-It will tell you that power is in the drug or the nicotine!
-Saint of God! It will tell you that what you need is more money, and more and more…
-And then you’ll wake up in chains!
-Bound!
-Addicted!
-Unable to escape of your own accord.
-The drug is not the answer
-The drink is not the answer
-More Money is not the answer!
-Maybe everything is alright now…
-Maybe you’re doing ok now
-But you mark this preacher’s words…
-If you don’t get out of Egypt you’re gonna get enslaved!
-Help Us To Bust out of the mold!
-Help us to expand our horizons and scope of our ministry!
-Help Us To See How We Can Be Used In Your Kingdom!
In Closing…..
-***”Is There Not A Cause!”
-When David made this statement, he was a ragtag little shepherd boy, standing among his Brothers and the Hebrew Army.
-When he said this… He was speaking to those who were bound by fear!
-He was talking to a group of men who had God on their side, yet had forgotten their victories and the victories of their ancestors
-They were intimidated!
-Bound by fear!
-So they dug in and tried to endure the taunts
-Maybe that sounds a bit like where you are at tonight!
-You have tried to step out in the Spirit a time or two, and the devil knocked you around.
-So now you have found yourself a spot where you can be comfortable
-But I believe God saved us, Not for our comfort, But for His Kingdom!
-Tonight, You need to examine the Calling God has placed on your life
-Tonight You need to get out of that comfortable spot and make a move toward the work that God wants from you!
-Step Out Into the Uncomfortable!
-Do It In Faith!
-God Will Not Fail You!
-Church! Now is not the time to back off!
-Now is not the time to throw in the towel…
-Now is the time for us to get out of our nests, our comfort zones and move forward in the kingdom of God!
-There is a work to be done and God is calling for more laborers!
-Step out of what is normal!
-Step out of what is safe!
-Step out of your zone and see if God won’t use you for an incredible work for him!
