Manna From Heaven

Yesterday was very difficult emotionally. My first period on this diet and that is when my chocolate cravings are at their greatest. I'm only sharing this information so anyone else going through the same thing can know they are not alone and can know what they might expect during the diet. I was angry and I cried some and I wasn't a nice person to be around. I was searching for something just to give me a little chocolate fix. I took a bite of some 100% cacao bakers chocolate. It was terrible but had a satisfying aftertaste. I even melted a tiny bit of the chocolate, with a tiny bit of real butter and a tiny bit of coconut milk, stirred it up and topped it on my almond flour pancakes. It wasn't very good but it did something to quench the craving and then I was a little better. I spent a while playing with my son and that cheered me up. He's such a joy to watch! The real treasures are really in the sweet moments like that!

Going through this diet change keeps bringing up in my mind the manna from heaven. Manna is the bread God rained down from heaven in the Desert of Sin during the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Manna means "what is it?"

"That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" or "manna" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, 'It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.'" Exodus 16: 13-15

"The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.  Moses said, 'This is what the Lord has commanded; 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.'"  Exodus 16: 31-32

"The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan." Exodus 16: 35

"The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, 'If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost-also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna.'" Numbers 11:4-6


I imagine I would have gotten sick of the manna as well. Especially after 40 years, since I'm already sick of vegetables after a few weeks. God had saved them from slavery in Egypt and they were wishing to go back because they believed they had it better off as slaves with whatever they wanted to eat. Wow, that speaks to me! About how for the taste of something sweet, you can keep your body in slavery. Much of what we eat has an affect our health and our emotions. I desire to be free from the pull to eat sugar, to be free from feeling that I need it to put a little joy in my life. It is the same with any addiction. I don't want to "need" anything but Jesus!

Later manna is compared to Jesus, the true bread from heaven:

"So they asked him, 'What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' Jesus said to them. 'I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."  John 6: 30-32

"Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." John 6:57-58


My focus has been too much on instant gratification...... the feelings or illusions of satisfaction I get from sugar. I desire to turn my focus to my real home!

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent"
John 17: 3

True satisfaction only comes from knowing God which is accomplished by reading about Him in the Word! My true home is at peace knowing God and having a constant mind of thankfulness for all He has done! I am not there yet, but that is my goal!

Blessings until next time!