(Numbers 11:4-6, 18-20 ESV) Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

18 And say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.” Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat. 19 You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’”

My wife and I recently went on a cruise and boarded the next generation of cruise ships' maiden voyage for our vacation.  The ship was called "The Dream".  Beautiful ship, beautiful accommodations, beautiful people and gourmet food without end.  After the first day of travel, I mused to myself, "I wonder how much it would cost to just cruise around the world for one whole year?"

It wasn't until the fifth day of the cruise, "Chocolate Day", eating my chocolate covered banana fritters, that the formerly "beautiful people' around me started looking like just so may hogs at the trough. And I was right there with them; "pigging out" on the infinite variety of chocolate covered "slop".

Oh, let me return to my simpler life, to the love and fellowship of my church, my family and even the uniformed faces of those in the prison I serve as chaplain.  I want my spiritual food, again.  Keep the escargot, château breon, and chocolate covered banana fritters.  I want the bread of life!

John 6:31-35 (ESV) Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

I thank God, it only took me five days and not 40 years to wonder around in the desert of this world's luxuries before I became hungry again for the things of the Spirit.  Two days later I found myself home, back in church with my family.  Today, I am truly satisfied.

(Matthew 5:6 ESV) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

by Pastor John