SOUL FOOD

(This is an abridged version of the sermon preched at Epworth Chapel, Baltimore on 2/5/12)

Exodus 16:1-15

A careful analysis of the African-American community points to the fact that we are people of with soul. That is to say that I believe that we all can relate in some way to the matter of the importance of “soul” in the life of the Black community. “Soul” is defined as that which is found deep within each of us. In the early 1900’s Dr. W.E.B. DuBois – renowned African-American sociologist – sought to get at the essence of this matter in his seminal book entitled the “Souls of Black Folk.”

Whether it is in the soul music of Aretha Franklin (the Queen of Soul) or James Brown (the Godfather of Soul)... the soul theology of Henry Mitchell or James Cone or Jacquelyn Grant… the “Soul on Ice” of Eldridge Cleaver… or the “Soul Train” of (the late great) Don Cornelius, blacks in America have been and continue to be a people concerned with the matter of soul. Whether it is Al Green or President Barack Obama singing “Let’s Stay Together,” or Etta James or Beyonce Knowles singing “At Last,” we are reminded that we are a people of soul.

Some of us might remember the movie “Soul Food” from a number of years ago. The movie offered a vivid depiction of the life of an African-American family, and how life – with all of its ups and downs – with all of its trials and tribulations – with all of life’s drama – can certainly be trying at times. And yet, through it all, black families have somehow found a way to maintain some sense of unity, hope, and most importantly love.

The image of “Big Mama,” even as she was advancing in age and experiencing failing health, having the ability to bring her family together around the table is vivid. And with whatever Big Mama’s daughters and their families were going through, and whatever mess and discord they were experiencing among themselves - gathering at Big Mama’s table and sharing in some soul food always seemed to make things better.

For me, the movie brought back memories, and served as a reminder of the importance of family, and how important it is for loved ones to come together and stay together. “Soul Food,” the movie, was a reminder of the Scripture as it is written in Psalm 133, “Behold, how very good and pleasant it is for kindred (brothers and sisters) to dwell together in unity.”

“Soul Food” also brought back memories of my Grandmother’s home-baked rolls and chocolate cake. There were none like them. And my mother’s chicken and dumplings. There were none like them. And Lisa’s macaroni and cheese. There is none like it. It never ceases to amaze me how everything they cooked seemed to turn out just right.

In Exodus chapter 16, we find a story about soul food. Here we find the people of Israel in the desert with their leaders, Moses and Aaron. The Israelites had been traveling through the desert for a short time. In the dessert we know that food and water are typically in short supply, and so the people, even in this short time in the desert, started to run out of food.

There the people found themselves grumbling and complaining, fretting and murmuring to Moses and Aaron. There the Israelites were in the desert after having been set free from their Egyptian slave masters by God, and now all of a sudden wondering how they were going to eat.

The Israelites said to Moses and Aaron, “we were better off when we were in captivity (slavery) in Egypt.” “At least when we were in slavery, we had food to eat.” “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve to death.”

The people were hungry, and they were angry, and they were looking to Moses and Aaron to provide some food for them. And so Moses spoke to the Lord, and the Lord said to him, “I have heard the grumbling of my people.” Tell them, ‘At twilight they will eat meat, and in the morning they will be filled with bread. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.’”

The word tells us, that evening huge flocks of quail came down and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost appeared on the desert ground - and they called this manna.

Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.” God wanted to teach the Israelites that God would provide for all their needs. Wherever they found themselves, and whatever they needed, God would and could provide for their needs. The same God who had created them – the same God who had parted the Red sea and delivered them - the same God who had made ways before in their lives - would do it again.

We are like the Israelites. We all hunger for the Lord’s provision in our lives. We all stand in need of the Lord’s provision in our lives. And while God desires to meet our physical needs, God also wants us to know that we cannot live on physical food alone. God wants us to know that God will also provide for our spiritual needs. God will feed our souls.

Our soul food comes through worshipping God, through spending time in prayer and studying God’s word, through fellowshipping and encouraging one another, and through serving and reaching out to others. How have you sought to have your soul fed lately?

And so, whatever “Big Mama” was cooking – whether it was chitterlings or spare ribs, collard greens or green beans, apple pie or blackberry cobbler – it really didn’t matter. What really mattered was that family gathered, broke bread together, and that together their souls were fed.

And so it was with the Israelites. As they complained and doubted, as they fussed and fretted with Moses and Aaron, it’s good to know that God showed up in their lives, and God rained down manna from heaven for them to eat. This was a reminder to them (and to us today), evidence, that God is a provider and God does indeed show up, and meets us at the point of all our needs. “Lord, All I have needed, thy hand has provided – Great is your faithfulness.”

And as the Lord provided, they continued on their journey. Maybe they sang:
Walk together children… Don’t you get weary.
Walk together children… Don’t you get weary.
Walk together children…. There’s a great camp meeting in the promised land.

God will show up on time, and God not only shows up, but the Lord feeds us until we want no more.

This is what the song-writer meant when it was written:
Guide me o though great Jehovah
Pilgrims of this barren land
I am weak and thou art mighty
Guide me with thou powerful hand
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more…