The wilderness manna was the perfect kind of lesson. Every day it gave the same instruction, which the Israelites were (and we are) supposed to learn permanently. We were made for two kinds of food. Neglect either one and we are in serious trouble. Our bodies need daily, healthy physical nourishment, while our souls require the spiritual menu provided in the Word of God. Manna came as a tasty morsel that filled their stomachs; faith grew in their souls as they realized Jehovah's promise was unwavering and complete.
How simple to understand. How easy to believe. How difficult to embrace.
(Deuteronomy 8:3, And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.)

How interesting and kind of God to give us more of Sarah's story. All we know from Genesis is that she devised the alternate plan for Abraham to have a son with Hagar, which miserably backfired. Then we are able to peek behind the scenes to see her laugh when the angel told her husband she would get pregnant.

It is not until 1 Peter 3 and Hebrews 11 that we are given a fuller account, one that leaves her shining with the radiance of a godly woman. She was a model of faith, as wife and mother, hand in hand with her famous husband.

It is wise to not be too harsh on others who make mistakes, especially when we don't know all the facts. (That is, always!)

(1 Peter 3 & Hebrews 11--Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord:/Through faith also Sarah . . . because she judged him faithful who had promised.)

In a day when so much importance is given to titles, qualifications, degrees, and human accolades, Elijah's story brings in a wise and balancing perspective.

As he appeared in the palace of the wicked and pagan king Ahab, the prophet gave only one personal credential: I STAND BEFORE GOD.

Wow! As it turned out, he needed no more than that. Proper preparation for any occupation or ministry has its legitimate place, but there is no substitute for spending time with God.

(1 Kings 17:1, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand...)

All of us can rejoice. We just need to have the right focus. The one who has few earthly things can rejoice in the fantastic inheritance he has in Christ. The one who is blessed with an abundance of wealth can enjoy knowing the truth, that his treasure is actually just a temporary trust from the Lord.

And those in between? They can adopt either view, whichever is most appropriate for the moment.

(James 1:9-10, Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.)