He's Still Providing Manna

God is still in the business of providing for our needs. It may not be manna from the sky, but it is good. It is satisfying and filling, just as God Himself is to our souls. 

Have you heard about the Israelites collecting manna? To give a little recap, the Israelites in Exodus 16 were very ungrateful and unhappy. The passage reads, “The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron [their leaders] in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger” (Exodus 16:2-3). Although I do feel bad for the Israelites and can only imagine how they felt, being in a hot, dry desert with few resources, I am shocked that they longed for the “good ole’ days” when they were held captive in slavery. 

I am certain that they felt tired, frustrated, and clearly hungry. The desert can do that to a person. But their enslaved conditions were harsh. They were mistreated, overworked, and at the hands of their ruler Pharaoh. Rather than trusting that God would provide, they chose to doubt Him. Even though they were free, they longed to be enslaved because it was “easier”.

As a response, God said, “... I am going to rain bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. This way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow My instructions” (Exodus 16:4). This bread was called manna, and the people were given enough for each day, forcing them to rely upon God’s provisions. Side note: He had already demonstrated His power to them (freeing them from Egyptian slavery, parting the red sea, and leading them by a pillar of cloud and fire). However, they still doubted His goodness and love for them. God heard their cry, and He did what He always does: He provided. 

Sometimes, like the Israelites, we find ourselves in the deserts of life, and it is really, really hard there. Things are tight, the future is scary and unknown, and resources feel scarce. However, even in the dry, hard seasons of life, we need to trust that Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides, will in fact continue providing. His provision often looks different from our picture-perfect vision, but He’s still in the business of providing manna. It may not rain from the sky, but it can come from His Word, which is “...living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow…” (Hebrews 4:12). It may not come first thing in the morning each day, but it can come at the perfect moment from the encouragement of a friend or family member. God is still in the business of providing for our needs. It may not be manna from the sky, but it is good. It is satisfying and filling, just as God Himself is to our souls. 

Friends, if you are feeling the pressures of life and the stresses of this world, ignore the desire to grumble and complain and instead, turn to God and wait expectantly for His provisions to come in the perfect moment. He always gives us enough to satisfy and fill us. 

Have a good week, friends!