What is it? While this appears to be an unprovoked question, I actually want to focus on this phrase as more of a definition to something. Any guesses thus far? If you were on the show Jeopardy, you would ask Alex Trebek to give you “Israelite Cuisine for $100 please”. To which you would (hopefully) reply with the answer, what is MANNA!
While there are several more “official” definitions for manna, if you were an Israelite in Biblical times, and you were a part of the group that wondered around in the wilderness for 40 years, you no doubt asked this question that first morning that it miraculously appeared as your daily sustenance. Their response is probably similar to what ours would be if we looked out of our front window one morning, and there was a small, round like substance resting on the surface of a dewy lawn. What in the wide world of sports is that? Or, if you’re less dramatic, you would quietly ponder this thought in your mind…what is it?
While I haven’t experienced literal manna in my life, I do think we all need to understand the powerful implications of figurative manna. The interesting thing about the Israelites relationship with manna, was that they had to eventually learn and understand, that it was God’s daily supply, and it was merely intended to get them through one day at a time (with the exception of a double portion the day before the sabbath). Lesson #1: the provision of manna had a lot to do with faith and trust.
This is the lesson that I am trying to learn, and then teach my family! We have to trust and have faith in God, that the manna He provided yesterday is good for that day alone. And that He will provide a fresh batch of manna for tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and then the next day! What we must understand, is that He will provide! And He will do what He promised. It’s up to us to trust Him and remember that.
I can’t speak for everyone, but if God granted me with a year’s supply of manna, I wouldn’t know what to do with it, and I would probably end up wasting most of it. Thus the beauty of living by the manna method. It will only be enough for what you can handle, one day at a time. Nothing more. Nothing less. And to be honest with you, I think it’s an ongoing lesson in most of our lives, because we have to trust in God and His ways, as opposed to leaning to our own understanding.
So, if this is a path that you’re willing to go down, if you’re willing to be satisfied with manna, indefinitely, then your provision will come from God, and Him alone! Your ultimate trust will be in Him. And that is something that will sustain you and miraculously keep you!
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