Not Too Little, Not Too Much, It’s Just Right

March 17, 2017 Year A

Exodus 16:9-21

Do you remember the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? A little enters a house and tests every comfort. First, she enters the dining room.She tastes the meal at the table. She tests and discovers that one plate is too hot, another is too cold, and the final one plate is just right. She moves to the living room and tests the seating arrangements. One chair is too large, another is too small, and the last one is just right. Then she goes to the bedroom. There, she lays on each of the three beds. One is too hard, one is too soft, and the last one is just right.

Here, God has provided bread from Heaven. The Israelites called it manna (which is Hebrew for “What is it?”). God provided enough manna for each day for the people to pick up.

“When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” because they didn’t know what it was. Moses told them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each person needs to eat. You may take two quarts per individual, according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.’ ”” (Exodus 16:15–16, HCSB)

But like the story of Goldilocks, some people picked up too much manna, and others too little manna.

“So the Israelites did this. Some gathered a lot, some a little.” (Exodus 16:17, HCSB)

Yet, when they measured out what they collected, God made the portion just right. Those who gathered too much did not have a surplus. Those who didn’t gather enough had just enough.

“When they measured it by quarts, the person who gathered a lot had no surplus, and the person who gathered a little had no shortage. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat.” (Exodus 16:18, HCSB)

When God provides, it will be just right. Even if we go out to shop and we buy too much, God makes it just right. Even when we don’t have enough, God makes a way to provide just enough. God doesn’t give too little, or too much. God gives us just what we need – it is just right.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia, Public Domain.