March 28, 2018

I realize it is Passover and this Sunday is Resurrection Sunday. There will be plenty of messages regarding that and it is not a light matter. Without the ultimate Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, none of us would be where we are or where we will be (especially those not in the Kingdom-YET!).

I wish to go on a different path this week. I want to discuss the Manna brought forth in the Wilderness for the Israelites. This discussion is in the context of commercial manufacturing and distribution.

Exodus 16:4-5 – Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. 5 And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”

Seems straight forward, right? Yet there was a glitch as is often the case due to our humanism and need for self-survival.

Exodus 16:15b-21 – And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’” 17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. 18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. 19 And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” 20 Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted.

Why am I talking about this during one of the most Holy weeks? For starters, this topic has been rolling in my head for days due to a new found interest, a more natural lifestyle. Also, well…

John 6:32-40 – Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

As I have been studying how to be more natural in multiple ways in my household, I began to get frustrated. My frustration came out of greed. I noticed my focus began to turn from me and my family living a more natural lifestyle to how can I sell these products (it’s a bit much I know especially since I haven’t actually gotten to the point of making any products yet). The Lord by His Holy Spirit and infinite Wisdom grabbed hold of me to stop me before my shift in focus created something not of Him.

Just as those Israelites that gathered more than they were told, we have done the same thing in our consumer markets. My frustration through my studies of more natural living came because I wanted to know how to naturally preserve some products I will soon (and prayerfully) be making for myself and my family. I found that the number one products I wish to concoct (lotions, soaps, and shower gels) need preservatives. The preservatives I have found are not ALL natural but still better than the everyday products we use.

The preservatives used in our everyday products are for the purposes of protecting market products from the bump and grind of manufacturing, transport, staying on supermarket shelves for a long while, then staying in our homes for a long while also. I can’t exactly call it greed because these preservatives have saved us from a multitude of diseases. Now, at least for me, it is time to take a step back and not only view but abide by the laws of nature set forth “in the beginning” (writing for another day).

Numbers 11:31-34 – Now a wind went out from the Lord, and it brought quail from the sea and left them fluttering near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the ground. 32 And the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers); and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. 33 But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was aroused against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague. 34 So he called the name of that place Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving.

My personal folly came because I sought the Lord about a few things and I received the answer which I am now researching (the more natural lifestyle). However, I was not satisfied (even before the work has actually really been started). Just like the Israelites who did not thank the Lord for granting their request for meat, I did not thank the Lord for answering me and was actually going way too far ahead of where He currently wants me to be (at least in my thoughts). Because of the compassion, mercy, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, I am able to stop and regather myself. My “craving” turned from what Holy Spirit told me originally to going beyond where He wants my thoughts to be in this exact moment.

As this week continues and on into the weekend, let us give thanks to our Lord and SAVIOR who has saved us from the damning and condemning hell we deserve and reconciled us back into the loving arms of Father God.

Each of us has a purpose and a destiny. Our journey has to be day by day/moment by moment. If we focus too much on our past or our future then we end up dwelling outside of the camp. We call it His Presence (as in present, as in now, as in a gift) for a reason. Now, my focus is back where it needs to be, in this moment meaning a more natural lifestyle for me and my family moment by moment (though not fully natural because I will still need some preservatives for even just personal use).

Whatever He has called any of us to do, wherever He has called any of us to be in everyway (that means physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, metaphysically, and whatever else we can place here), that is the only place we need to be. Where is that place? The only place we already are:

Ephesians 2:6-10 – But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Just a side note: I don’t believe in coincidences. It has been almost 12 years since I gave my life to the Lord. I was water baptized Resurrection Sunday of 2006 (April 16th). Think on incidences like that for your own life. He IS always there. Time is not a definite but instead it is a way for us to try to explain the infinite. Just sayin’.

Also, here is an awesome article I found. It doesn’t exactly go with what has been laid out here yet it does at the same time. At the very least it is something to think about moving forward especially since oils are very important in the Bible and our Lord was anointed with fragrant oils before His crucifixion.

http://www.unveiling.org/Articles/flies.html

Alicia R. Shipe