Scripture Daily

Context No. 1557 of 4322 · Wisdom

Context · Reflection

Wisdom 16:17-29: in context

17For, what was most marvelous, in the water which quenches all things, the fire burned hotter; for the world fights for the righteous. 18For at one time the flame was restrained, that it might not burn up the creatures sent against the ungodly, but that these themselves as they looked might see that they were chased by the judgment of God. 19At another time even in the midst of water it burns more intensely than fire, that it may destroy the produce of an unrighteous land. 20Instead of these things, you gave your people angels’ food to eat, and you provided ready-to-eat bread for them from heaven without toil, having the virtue of every pleasant flavor, and agreeable to every taste. 21For your nature showed your sweetness toward your children, while that bread, serving the desire of the eater, changed itself according to every man’s choice. 22But snow and ice endured fire, and didn’t melt, that people might know that fire was destroying the fruits of the enemies, burning in the hail and flashing in the rains; 23and that this fire, again, in order that righteous people may be nourished, has even forgotten its own power. 24For the creation, ministering to you, its maker, strains its force against the unrighteous for punishment and in kindness, slackens it on behalf of those who trust in you. 25Therefore at that time also, converting itself into all forms, it ministered to your all-nourishing bounty, according to the desire of those who had need, 26that your children, whom you loved, O Lord, might learn that it is not the growth of crops that nourishes a man, but that your word preserves those who trust you. 27For that which was not destroyed by fire, melted away when it was simply warmed by a faint sunbeam, 28that it might be known that we must rise before the sun to give you thanks, and must pray to you at the dawning of the light; 29for the hope of the unthankful will melt as the winter’s hoar frost, and will flow away as water that has no use.

The writer of Wisdom reflects on the wonders of the exodus, when creation itself served God's purposes, fire that burned even in water against the wicked, and manna that fed God's people, suited to every taste. And he draws lessons from the manna. It melted in the morning sun, so it had to be gathered early; and from this he says the people learned that they must rise before the sun to give thanks and pray at the dawning of the light. And deeper still, the manna taught that it is not the growing of crops that nourishes a person, but that God's word preserves those who trust him.

Two lessons the writer draws from the manna are worth taking. The first is about dependence: it is not the growth of crops that nourishes a person, but God's word that preserves those who trust him. The manna came without sowing or harvest, straight from God's hand, and by it Israel learned that their life did not finally depend on the ordinary mechanisms of provision, the crops and the fields, but on God himself, who could feed them without any of the usual means. It is a lesson we easily lose in a world where provision comes through visible processes, our work, our income, the systems we rely on. We come to think that these are what sustain us, forgetting that behind every means stands God, who is the real source of our life and could sustain us with or without the usual channels. The manna stripped that away and taught dependence directly on God. The second lesson is about seeking God early: the manna melted in the sun, so it had to be gathered at dawn, and this taught the habit of rising before the sun to give thanks and pray at the dawning of the light. The day's provision was gathered first thing, before other things; and so we are taught to seek God early, to give him the first of the day, gathering from him before the day's business crowds in. Both lessons hang together: our life depends on God, not on the visible means; and the way to live in that dependence is to seek him first, early, before all else. The manna, gathered fresh each dawn, taught Israel to depend on God and to seek him first.

Do I imagine that the visible means, my work and income and systems, are what sustain me, forgetting the God who stands behind them, and do I seek him first, early, before the day's business, as the manna gathered at dawn taught Israel to do?

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