04.29.08 What Is It? And Another Annoying Question.

Last Tuesday Gabriella and I sat down like we always do on Tuesdays and read the next part of the story we Christians call the Bible.  As always, this ended in Gabriella asking a question.

You know this story right?  After God rained frogs and grasshoppers on the Egyptians, pharaoh let the Israelites go.  Then pharaoh sent his chariots out to hunt them down and just then, when it looked like the Israeiltes were done for, the sea parted and the Israelites escaped.  Then their stomachs started growling, and they got whiny and formed a committee that talked behind Moses’ back about how much better things were before he was boss...you know, when they were building pyramids for no dollars a day and dressing their little boys like little girls and calling them “Susan” or “Loretta.”

Before they could oust Moses, God shut them up by raining biscuits from Heaven.  Every morning they walked out of their tents and found biscuits (sort of) scattered all over the lawn.

The first time this happened some guy must have taken a bite and, not recognizing the flavor, maybe not liking the flavor, maybe a little ungrateful and hoping for French toast instead, he must have asked, “What is it?” He must have because that’s what “manna” means: “What is it?”

But some folks must have really liked the stuff because they started stockpiling it, getting as much of it as they could, which meant other people’s stomachs were left growling.  So God made a rule: You can only take what you need for the day, no more.  And if anyone broke that rule their bread turned into maggots before they could eat it all.

“Why do you think God made that rule?” I asked.

“Are we gonna talk about poor kids again?”