06/19/2019 EATING FRESH
Exodus 16:15-16 When the people of Israel saw it they asked each other, “What is it?” And Moses told them,
It is the food Jehovah has given you to eat. Jehovah has said for everyone to gather as much as is needed for his household---about three quarts for each person in his home.” [Living Bible translation]
Exodus 16:19-20: And Moses told them, “don’t leave it overnight.” But of course some of them wouldn’t listen, and left it until morning: and when they looked, it was full of maggots and had a terrible odor; and Moses was very angry with them. [Living Bible translation]
Summary
In Exodus 16, the people complained about not having enough to eat. Although GOD had performed miracle after miracle and brought them out of Egyptian oppression, the people still lacked faith. They moaned, groaned, complained and were often bitter about their circumstances. They were never satisfied. Instead of thanking GOD, and giving glory to GOD for what HE had already done for them, there was always something else they wanted.
But once again, GOD answered their prayer. HE provided food. In fact, HE provided DIVINE food---fresh food that descended from heaven. When the food appeared the people asked each other “What is it.” Moses told them it was “manna.” [Manna in Hebrew means “What is it.”] * Moses instructed the people to gather only what they needed, enough for each person and no more. Nothing was to be left over. They were specifically told: “Don’t leave it overnight.” In other words, they were not to try to store it, hoard it or be greedy. This was an exercise in faith and trust, in believing that GOD would supply their daily needs.
But, some of the people failed the test. They disobeyed. Instead of glorifying GOD, with their obedience, they focused on themselves and what they wanted. Maybe some of them thought that once they gathered it, took it home and put it on their plate, it was “theirs.” Perhaps some saw the food as “hidden treasure.”
They just couldn’t “see.” They couldn’t “see” that the “true gold” was not the food the WORD of GOD. They could “see” or trust the loving hand of THE PROVIDER.
* The great hymn “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah” refers to “bread of heaven.”
BENEFITS OF EATING FRESH
Fresh Foods Taste Better
Fresh foods generally taste better. Some of the best restaurants tend to have chefs use fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables from nearby gardens. Freshly picked ripe tomatoes generally taste better than tomatoes that have been picked, boxed, trucked across the county or harvested in another country. It is one reason why many grocery stores try to buy locally grown fruit and vegetables, whenever possible.
AVOID CANS
Another reason why eating fresh is better than eating canned foods is because some canned food liners contain BPA. Bisphenol A [often called BPA] is a chemical found in some hard plastics and the coatings of some food and drink cans. BPA can also be found in many products, including some water bottles, some baby bottles, and other food and commercial products. Often people are eating microplastics without even realizing it. Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than 5 mm long.