Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Manna and fish



Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” ~Acts 14:17

This morning as I was feeding our fish, I couldn't help but think about the Isrealites in the dessert who received Manna each morning. You see, my fish rely on me for their food. They only eat if I remember to feed them. They have no choice in the matter. They also only get what I offer. They get the same flaky fish food each and every day. This reminds me of the Isrealites, because they had nothing to eat except the Manna provided by God. They didn't get a choice in the matter. He provided the same flaky food each and every day (more consistently than I, I must add).

However unlike the Isrealites, my fish don't grumble against me asking for something different (not that they are able to), they don't tell me that they are sick of fish food and would rather have some of our dog's food instead. They eagerly eat what I put into their tank. This thought takes me from the Isrealites, to present day Christians.

God gives us so much each day. He provides for all of our needs, yet we want more. We most certainly aren't content to eat the same food day after day (we are very similar to the Isrealites in that way). Instead of looking at what God has provided for us, we look at what we don't have. We usually don't even need what we are desiring after, it just sounds good. We crave Big Mac's, new T.V.'s, and that pair of shoes at the mall. My fish on the other hand, have no choice but to be content with their circumstances. They eat when I feed them, their tank is cleaned when I decide to clean it, they are surrounded by the items I choose to put inside of their tank (If they don't like their coral, they are forced to live with it anyway). More than that, if they don't like the other fish in the tank, they learn to get along. They have no way out, but to learn to love.

There is so much that I could learn from my fish.


4 comments:

  1. It's so nice to "meetcha!!"
    So HAPPY you joined us and I've got to tell you, THIS just hit me! Learning from the fish! :) We've had our share around here...this was fantastic! LOVE when He gives us a message in the mundane!!

    Peace and Happy New Year!
    lori

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  2. We could all do well to learn a little bit from our fish! I hadn't thought about it this way before but you're so right. Sometimes we need to just hang in there and do what we need to do to get along, and get through. It isn't always necessary to CHANGE something. Sometimes we need to allow our circumstances to change us. Thanks for stopping by my blog this morning!
    www.5kidsandadog.com

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  3. My aim this year is to spend it rejoicing and not grumbling... thanks for the lesson from the fish. I will keep that image in mind as I accept food from Him each day.

    Joy & Blessings,
    Alida from Blackpurl's Knitpickings

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  4. what a great post, this message is for me, i've been desiring for another pair of shoes but i know it's not yet time to have it, i so much want to have it now but I know it wouldn't please God if i buy it now.

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