Article October 24, 1942 Issue

Gathering the Manna

EILEEN DUNSTAN

The Scriptural record of the journey of the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt into the freedom of the promised land teaches us many lessons. The journey is fraught with difficulties, but each problem was overcome through Moses' unwavering faith in God's guidance. His steadfast reliance on God's presence and power sends a clarion call of courageous right thinking down through the ages, strengthening our wavering trust and lifting our eyes above the mist of fear and error.

The tender, loving care of the heavenly Father is clearly shown in the daily provision for the children of Israel. All through the forty years of wandering in the desert, Love provided manna for them unfailingly. Can we, children on the journey from sense to Soul, ever doubt our Father will provide for us too? Our Father, divine Love, already knows what we need, and is pouring out upon us the riches of Spirit. When our heart is loving and earnest in its desire for spiritual grace, we shall not look in vain for the heavenly manna, since it is provided for us now, as it was long ago for the Israelites.

Christian Science enables the student more fully to understand the lessons of the Scriptures, and shows him how to make these lessons practical in his own life. On page 33 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," under the marginal topic "Heavenly supplies," Mary Baker Eddy, referring to the supper which Jesus ate with his disciples, says: "His followers, sorrowful and silent, anticipating the hour of their Master's betrayal, partook of the heavenly manna, which of old had fed in the wilderness the persecuted followers of Truth. Their bread indeed came down from heaven. It was the great truth of spiritual being, healing the sick and casting out error." From these words we realize that the manna which appeared to the Israelites as "a small round thing" to be gathered every morning typified the great truth of spiritual substance. It is this truth that feeds and sustains men, lifting them out of materiality into the joy and freedom of Spirit. Want is an illusion that the manna has not been provided today; but we must awake from this dream of lack and know that God's promises are kept. There was no lack in the desert when the Israelites depended upon God alone for sustenance, and there will be no lack of good in our lives when we learn to rely upon God for our supply. We need the spiritual refreshment which the truth as taught in Christian Science brings, this great truth of perfect God and of man in His image and likeness.

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