Owl City

This week, Davis did the Sunday lesson on Numbers 11: the Israelites complain about being in the desert, and God provides manna and meat for them.  In my adult years, I have found the old testament to be more interesting than I used to find it as a child.  There are so many interesting things about this passage in Numbers.  Another passage I will tie into this post is Exodus 16; same story, different accounts.
1. I could never fathom living in a desert for 40 years, waiting on the promised land.  It's easy to brush off the Israelites as ungrateful and weak - but think about it.  Forty years?!  I can't imagine how hard it was for them.  Now, that makes me feel silly for complaining about trivial things that I already know my God is going to take care of.  Sheesh.  AND if Moses started complaining to God (Numbers 11:10-15), you know it had to be bad. 
2. I never knew that God told the Israelites to save some of the manna so that generations to come will know that God provided manna for them in the desert (Exodus 16:32).
3. Manna was said to look like white coriander seeds and resin (Exodus 16:31, Numbers 11:7).  I was curious what exactly these looked like, so I found some pictures:

Coriander seeds

Resin

 

 

 

4. The foods that were listed in Numbers 11:5 (cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, garlic) are commonly eaten and used to cook with in China.  That is awesome.  I don't think leeks are commonly used to cook with where I am from in America. 
5. I think it is a message of faith.  The people got manna for 40 days because they complained.  They asked themselves why they ever left Egypt (Numbers 11:20), essentially meaning they wished God had never rescued them out of Egypt.  In this, they lost sight of the promised land and didn't fully trust that God was going to deliver His promise.  It teaches me to have faith that God is going to lead me to a greater promise when I am going through something hard.

In other news, Davis and I found this awesome store right down the street from our apartment that have birds.  Originally, there were 2 mangy birds in 2 separate cages sitting outside the front door of the store.  I didn't even think why they were there.  A couple days ago, Davis discovered there was a live (and hooded) falcon on a perch inside the store.  He also saw a professional photo setup - the white screen and 2 large photo lights in front of the screen.  Our initial thought was that people could pay to have their photo taken with the birds, professionally.  Last night, we were walking by and saw a man in the store holding a little owl on a perching glove.  So naturally, we stood there and ooh'd and aww'd until the men came outside to let us have a closer look.  We then found out that it is a place that takes professional photos of the birds only, not people with the birds.  Dang.  They were nice enough though, to let us take a photo with the bird with our own camera.  Made. My. Night!