Chocolate Snowflakes

<p>Residents of Olten, Switzerland, were surprised by a shower of chocolate shavings covering the entire town. The ventilation system at a nearby chocolate factory had malfunctioned, sending cocoa into the air and dusting the area with confectionary goodness. The chocolate coating, harmless to both people and environment, sounds like a dream come true for chocoholics!</p> <p>While chocolate (sadly) doesn&rsquo;t adequately provide for one&rsquo;s nutritional needs, God supplied the Israelites with heavenly showers that did. As they traveled through the desert, they began to grumble about the variety of food they&rsquo;d left behind in Egypt. In response, God said He would &ldquo;rain down bread from heaven&rdquo; to sustain them (Exodus 16:4). When the morning dew dried up each day, a thin flake of food remained. The Israelites&mdash;approximately two million of them!&mdash;were instructed to gather as much as they needed that day. For the years of their desert wanderings, they were nourished by God&rsquo;s supernatural provision in manna.</p> <p>We know little about manna except that it was &ldquo;white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey&rdquo; (v. 31). Though manna may not sound as appealing as a steady diet of chocolate, the sweetness of God&rsquo;s provision for His people is clear. Manna points us to Jesus who described Himself as the &ldquo;bread of life&rdquo; that sustains us daily and assures us of life eternal (John 6:48, 51).</p>