Familiarity breeds contempt (IP)

“What is it?”*, they said – extraordinary food,
collected each morning (and tasting so good)
from the ground all around on six mornings, and then
double provision day six, so day seven
they’d rest, eating what from day six had been kept
(it decayed other nights if retained as they slept).
So supplies must be gathered afresh every day
(but one!) trust their Rescuer’s words, and obey.
When baked from the flour that was ground from these flakes,
it tasted of honey and olive-oil cakes.
This promised provision would be constant throughout
their journey – his will and his skill not in doubt.

But some became irritable, sulky and moaned,
and spoke of variety in the land where they’d groaned
under slavery harsh – they imagined it better,
forgetting their sufferings and prospects so bitter,
stirring up grumbles, provoked discontent,
they scorned all the wonder of what they’d been sent,
dismissed the great rescue and future sure land,
to Moses they made their ungrateful demand,
a mirage of luxury vainly they lusted,
but ‘manna’* sustained them – and many still trusted
their Lord who had saved them, preserving, and fed
with this most extraordinary wonderful bread.
*’manna’ means ‘what is it?’

based on Exodus 16:11-31; Numbers 11:4-6

[IP: How The Extraordinary Became Mundane]