October 11, 2024
Everyone must eat, and it must be daily. It’s possible to go without food for a while, but it's not healthy. God has designed us to eat every day.
This is why God’s provision of daily bread is so precious.
MANNA IN THE WILDERNESS
When God led the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land, they quickly ran out of food as they crossed the desert. There were several million in their company, and their immediate response (it always was) was to grumble and complain.
Of course, the Father had a plan. He was leading them, and He leads us in all the right paths for His name’s sake. He used this massive national problem to teach them by providing their daily food in the most precious way.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. (Exodus 16:4)
EVERY DAY BREAD
The manna was there every single day for the next 40 years (146,000 days). It was provided the same way each day and precisely in the amount needed. It was hand-delivered from heaven and was sweet to the taste and nourishing to the body. They were to gather about two quarts per person, just enough for one day and no more.
It would melt in the heat of the day, and if they tried to store it, it would spoil in a day. This was on purpose from God, for He desired for them to learn to look to Him daily … to be reminded of their need and the graciousness of their God every 24-hour period so they would not forget.
GIVE US THIS DAY
When Jesus was teaching us to pray, one of the six movements of prayer He taught us is wrapped in these words:
Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11).
It is such a simple prayer and so complete. There is no pleading in this sentence, no anxiety, no fear. Worry is gone because He has already assured us that He feeds the sparrows and clothes the lilies. “Will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30).
And then Jesus reminds us of not only the provision of the Father but His ever-present understanding.
“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:32)
A WORRY-LESS LIFE
Have you ever thought of how many times God tells us in the scripture not to worry? Over and over again, He commands us in this way. He is with the children in His kingdom. Morning by morning, if we look to Him, He will deliver the manna to our door. He provides with tenderness and love and absolute perfection. His timing is always right, often waiting till the midnight hour so we will learn one more lesson that builds our faith and perseverance and gives the watching world a stunning testimony of our Father’s love and faithfulness.
How blessed are those who learn to simply look to Him every day. They learn the preciousness of our God!
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