Daily Lesson for June 18, 2014

Today's Daily Lesson comes from Numbers chapter 11 verses 31 through 33:

31 Then a wind from the Lord sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, around the camp, and about 18 inches above the ground. 32 And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least gathered ten barrels. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. 33 While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people.

It today's lesson the Israelites have grown tired of God's provision of the Manna as they travel through the Wilderness. Though troubled by their dissatisfaction, God relents and rains down quail on the people 18 inches thick and as far as the eye could see. The people then went into a ravenous frenzy, gathering as much quail as they could make off with in one day. They were like looters in a shopping market - selfish, greedy, insatiable, out of their loving minds. All they could think of was more, more, more.

The Bible is clear and consistent in its teaching that more is not necessarily better. More has a diminishing value; the more we have the more we want. And we will go out of our minds to get it. It's the same whether we are talking about food or sports or entertainment or religion or health care. We get a little something that is good, but then lose ourselves in trying to get - or provide - more.

We need to see this insanity for what it is and learn to resist it. It's killing our bodies, and our communities, and even our planet. It also kills our soul. 

When Jesus fed the 5,000 in the Wilderness all the people came rushing back the next day for more. But Jesus didn't feed them again. He said no. A little something to get them through the day was a good thing. But something in their eyes said they wanted more and more. Jesus had the courage to resist the demand; he had the courage to say enough is enough.

And it is.