"What is it?" When God sent manna to a hungry people, they had no idea what God had sent. It was exactly what they needed, but they didn't recognize it. And then when they found out what it was, they tried to control it. They tried to gather more than God instructed, and it resulted in rot and worms.

When we're afraid, it's hard to surrender. It's hard to accept help that is unfamiliar or unrecognizable. It's hard to let go of control, even to God. It's more comfortable to complain, to turn up our noses to help that is unfamiliar, to reject help we cannot control. Funny, though, the nature of help is usually unfamiliar and uncomfortable. It feels discombobulating to need help and to accept it. But we need the help. We cannot do everything all by ourselves. We need the aid of others, even when it feels weird. 

Text:

When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents.’” The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed. And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over until morning.” But they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul. And Moses was angry with them. Morning by morning they gathered it, as much as each needed; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.