I think it just might be a good idea for every parent to preserve a box of mementoes to present to their children when they venture out on their own. You know, when they are most likely to forget some things. Like how certain parents helped them arrive at this moment. In this box there should be at least one dirty diaper. You might want to put this in a sealed container; as long as it is a clear container. Some form of baby food should be included, along with some puked on clothes. Make sure you take a picture of yourself after a particularly difficult night of providing care in the midst of illness; hospital visits; broken hearts; or, you know, whatever and chuck the picture in the box. A grocery bill may be helpful. And when your child moves out on their own, present them with the box and tell them the story of how you nurtured; provided; loved; sacrificed all manner of sleep and dignity; and generally took care of them when they were powerless to take care of themselves. Encourage them to go through the contents of the box occasionally. You know, just as a reminder. They may not understand the importance of the box, but you do, don’t you?
Exodus 16 is about Yahweh providing food in the wilderness in spite of grumbling and disobedience. Verses 31-36 are about making sure that Yahweh’s divine providence is remembered throughout generations. Throughout this passage the Israelites have been referred to as the sons of Israel, but in verse 31 they are called the “house of Israel”. The word “house” can refer to the household. Maybe, at the beginning of this passage, there is an emphasis that the Israelites are a household; a family that extends through generations; a family with family memories and experiences. The Israelites named Yahweh’s gift of bread “manna” which means “what is that?” Haha, that’s funny. We are given a little more information about the manna. It is like coriander seed, which probably means it looked like the small globular seed with ridges. It tasted like honey wafers, which may imply that it was crispy. It sounds good and I would love to taste some. How about you? Maybe at the heavenly banquet manna will be on the menu. I sure hope so.
The next three verses (vv. 32-34) are all about the command to keep some manna in a jar. Moses first gives us a “Word of Yahweh” command. There can be no doubt that it is Yahweh who ordered an omer of manna to be stored in a jar. And why? So the subsequent generations can see the bread that Yahweh fed them in the wilderness. Notice the emphasis here. It is not referred to as the bread they ate in the wilderness. Nope. It is the bread Yahweh fed them; in a wilderness where normally there would be little to no food to be found, much less enough bread to feed the household of Israel. And in this “Word of Yahweh” command they are also reminded that they were in the wilderness in the first place because God had brought them out of the land of Egypt; the land of slavery and despair.
Then Moses commands Aaron to take a jar and put the manna in the jar and to place it before Yahweh. Then, we are told that Aaron placed the jar before the Testimony. Hmm. Now, the Testimony refers to either the tablets with the Ten Words on them or to the Ark of the Covenant. So, here’s the thing. The Ten Words are not given until chapter 20 and the Ark of the Covenant doesn’t show up until chapter 25. Many a skeptic will cry “anachronism!” An anachronism is when something is out of its proper time. A couple of thoughts may be appropriate here. God can and does make commands before the actual event. In Exodus he gives them instructions about being in the Land of Promise before they get there. Also, verse 34 may refer to the fact that when the Ark was finally constructed, Aaron was able to fully obey the command and put the jar in it or before it. What is important is that Yahweh made provisions for a reminder of his provision to be kept in a sacred place. The sons of Israel ate the manna for forty years after all. Yahweh providing bread every day for forty years is something worth passing down to generations.
We have this insane urge to pat ourselves on the back. We are prayer warriors; we are spiritual super saints; we cleaned up our lives. The purpose of the jar of manna was to remind the household of Israel that Yahweh provided what they could not have provided for themselves. He brought them out of Egypt. He fed them in the barren wilderness. He brought them to the land of Promise. What reminds you that it is God who saved you? You didn’t do it! You didn’t pray your way in! You didn’t righteous yourself saved! So, if wearing a cross helps you remember, by all means wear one. Only, remember! Peace.