Numbers 11:6 – “But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” (ESV) Greetings in the powerful name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today is another gift of grace from the Lord, and I invite you to reflect with me on His Word. When the Israelites entered the wilderness, they had no idea that their diet would consist of only one kind of food—manna. At first, they were amazed by it. The manna was sweet, fresh, and miraculously provided every morning by the hand of God. But as time passed, their excitement faded. They began to grow tired of it. Seeing the same food every day—morning, noon, and night—they started longing for something else. They asked themselves, “How long will this go on?” They craved variety—meat, fish, cucumbers, garlic, and perhaps if they lived in our time, pizza and burgers. Numbers 11:4–6 (ESV) tells us:“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! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.’” They had forgotten that the foods of Egypt, though appealing, came with bondage, disease, and suffering. They longed for the delicacies of slavery rather than the simplicity of freedom. The manna, though repetitive, was life-giving. It kept them healthy and sustained. As Moses later reminded them: Deuteronomy 8:3–4 (ESV):“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna… that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.” Theologically, manna is a symbol of the Word of God. It represents Christ Himself, who is the true bread from heaven (John 6:31–35). When we come to faith in Christ, we must understand that our nourishment comes from one source alone: the Word of God. This is the spiritual food for our souls. We wake up with it, walk with it, go to bed with it. It is our life, our strength, and our daily bread. We were not given Scripture plus self-help books or entertainment to comfort us. We were not given the Word alongside worldly distractions like sports or pop culture to keep us occupied. The Word is sufficient on its own. But how easily our hearts drift. Like the Israelites, many believers today grow tired of the Word. At the beginning of our faith journey, we eagerly listened to sermons, devoured Scripture, and meditated on it with joy. We valued the Word above all else. But over time, many begin to find it repetitive, boring, or too demanding. We want “something more”—new forms of stimulation, emotional excitement, or cultural relevance. Soon, believers start mixing the Word with worldly music, entertainment, and philosophies. The Word no longer becomes the main course, but just one of many “dishes” in their spiritual diet. Like the Israelites, we begin to despise the manna—the very thing that sustains our lives. The consequences are serious. When the Israelites rejected manna and craved meat, God gave them what they wanted—but it came with judgment. Numbers 11:33 (ESV):“While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague.” This should sober us. When we choose other “foods” over God’s Word, we risk spiritual weakness, confusion, and even judgment. God’s Word is not optional—it is vital. As Jesus said to Satan in the wilderness: Matthew 4:4 (ESV):“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Beloved, let us not be like the Israelites who rejected the food that gave them life. Let us learn to love the Word again. Even if the world calls it outdated or unappealing, we know that it is the only food that truly satisfies the soul. It strengthens, purifies, and prepares us for eternity. We must stop wandering in search of flavor. Obey the Word. Trust the Word. Depend on the Word. Leave worldly cravings to the world. May God help us to find daily joy in His Word alone. If we feed on it faithfully, we will not weaken, but be strengthened, blessed, and made ready for His Kingdom. Be encouraged. Be nourished. Be steadfast.And may the Lord richly bless you.
This passage from Ecclesiastes presents a striking and sobering reality: a man may have all the outward signs of a successful life—many children, long life, material wealth—yet still live an unfulfilled and empty existence. If his soul is not satisfied with good things, and worse still, if he dies without even the dignity of a burial, the Preacher (Qoheleth) concludes that a stillborn child is better off than he. This statement may seem harsh at first glance, but it confronts us with a powerful truth: a life without purpose, peace, and godly contentment is ultimately meaningless, no matter how prosperous it appears on the outside. Two Types of People: Those Who Love Their Lives and Those Who Long for Eternity The Bible often presents two broad categories of people regarding how they view life: 1. Those Who Renounce the World for the Sake of Eternity These are saints who have denied themselves, choosing to live as pilgrims and strangers in this world. Abraham, though exceedingly wealthy, lived in tents, never attaching himself to earthly luxury because he looked forward to a heavenly city: “By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents… For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”(Hebrews 11:9–10, ESV) Such people—like Moses, John the Baptist, the apostles, and the prophets—did not seek comfort in this life. Their hearts were set on the world to come. Many of them suffered, were persecuted, and even martyred, yet Scripture declares they will be highly honored in the Kingdom of God: (Hebrews 11:23–40 provides a full picture of such faith-filled lives.) As followers of Christ, we are called to have this same mindset—to fix our minds not on earthly things but on things above (Colossians 3:1–2), storing up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19–21). 2. Those Who Prosper but Remain Spiritually Empty This is the person Ecclesiastes 6:3 describes. They experience great earthly success: a large family, wealth, honor, and long life. Yet something critical is missing: satisfaction of the soul. Despite their achievements, they remain discontent, always striving, always hungry for more—yet never fulfilled. They labor for years, amass wealth, plan for enjoyment, but never actually enjoy what they’ve earned. Some even die without receiving proper burial, a cultural disgrace in ancient Israel and a symbol of a wasted life. The Preacher says that a stillborn child is better off than such a person. Why? A stillborn child never experiences the futility and sorrow of this world. It enters and exits life without enduring the burden of unmet longing. Meanwhile, the prosperous but unfulfilled soul lives a long life without tasting the goodness of it—a life of accumulation without enjoyment, striving without rest, and wealth without worship. A Related Verse: The Tragedy of Unenjoyed Blessings “A man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.”(Ecclesiastes 6:2, ESV) This verse reinforces the same idea: true enjoyment is not in possessions themselves, but in the grace to enjoy them—a grace only God can give. A Word of Warning and Hope This passage is not only a warning but also a call to wisdom: do not anchor your life in what is temporary. Wealth, family, honor, and long life are good, but they are not ultimate. Without a relationship with God and a heart surrendered to Him, even the greatest blessings become vanity. Jesus put it plainly: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”(Mark 8:36, ESV) Application: Store Up Treasures in Heaven If God has blessed you with resources, use them to glorify Him and bless others. Live not as one building an empire on earth, but as one preparing for eternity. Do not be enslaved by possessions, but let them serve your eternal purpose. Invest in what endures: faith, love, truth, the Gospel, and godliness. The “treasure” warned against here is not your basic savings or wise financial stewardship. Rather, it is a lifestyle that hoards and trusts in wealth, refusing to let go, living as if earth is your forever home. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”(Matthew 6:19–20, ESV) Conclusion Ecclesiastes 6:3 challenges us to evaluate the true meaning of life. What is the point of earthly success if it leaves the soul empty? A life without God, no matter how long or prosperous, is ultimately a tragedy. But a life lived with eternal purpose, even in poverty or obscurity, is a treasure in God’s sight. May we live as sojourners, not settlers—investing not in what fades, but in what lasts forever. Shalom.
“He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark, and put the atonement cover over it.” — Exodus 40:20, NIV The Mercy Seat that was placed on top of the Ark of the Covenant was not a seat in the way we commonly understand—like a chair with legs for sitting. The Hebrew term translated as “seat” (Hebrew: kapporet) refers not to a literal throne, but to a place of atonement—a symbolic space where God’s presence would dwell and where reconciliation between God and His people would take place. It was part of the golden lid that covered the Ark of the Covenant. Above this lid stood two cherubim of hammered gold, facing each other, with their wings stretched out upward and overshadowing the cover (Exodus 25:18–20). The space between the cherubim was called the Mercy Seat, and it represented the very throne of God on earth—a holy place where God’s glory would appear. “There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat… I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.”— Exodus 25:22, ESV The lid (including the cherubim and the Mercy Seat) formed a single piece and was crafted from pure gold. It served as the covering for the Ark, which contained the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that had budded (Hebrews 9:4). Once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the High Priest would enter the Most Holy Place and sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial bull on the Mercy Seat seven times. This blood offering served as a temporary covering for the sins of the people. “He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.”— Leviticus 16:14, ESV Under the Old Covenant, the Mercy Seat symbolized God’s provision for forgiveness through the sacrificial system. But it was ultimately incomplete. The blood of bulls and goats could never truly remove sin, only cover it temporarily (Hebrews 10:1–4). Moreover, the priests who served were themselves sinful and needed atonement. Because of these limitations, a greater reality was needed: A Heavenly Mercy Seat, not made by human hands. A Perfect High Priest, sinless and eternal. A Spotless Sacrifice, able to cleanse sin once for all. All of this is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is our Great High Priest, who entered not into an earthly tabernacle but into Heaven itself, offering not the blood of animals, but His own sinless blood for our eternal redemption. “But when Christ came as High Priest of the good things that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands… He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”— Hebrews 9:11–12, NIV Today, the true Mercy Seat is found in Christ Himself. Through Him, we have direct access to the Father, and full forgiveness of sins. The invitation to receive this mercy is open now—but it will not remain open forever. One day, the door of grace will close when Christ returns. So the question remains: Have you placed your faith in Jesus? Have your sins been washed away by His blood? The true Mercy Seat is open to all who will come in repentance and faith. Don’t wait until it’s too late. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”— Hebrews 4:16, NIV Maranatha!(The Lord is coming)