Exodus 16:4
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.”
The grumbling has been building up for days. Moses implored of The Lord to provide food. This is the result. The people walked out and said, “what is it?”, which means manna. The name stuck. It came down for forty years. It skipped the sabbath every week.
Many have tried to give a natural explanation. Some think that it was a secretion from the Tamarask tree. Another was an extretion from an insect. God may have created manna from nothing or He may have miraculously mustered it by natural means. I say it’s a miracle because it happened on His scheduled (none on the sabbath) and it lasted during the wilderness wandering (40 years). It’s also a miracle for the enormous quantity that was produced. It had to be enough for 3 million people on a daily basis. If He brought from a tree, he channeled it by wind and brought it all to them.
A miracle was needed. It wasn’t possible for this many people to find enough food for their families. God will provide for us in our lives. Our needs probably won’t be about food. We have many other needs. Maslow’s Heirarchy of needs comes to mind: physiological, safety, social, esteem and self actualization. These five categories represent hundreds of applications. God is interested in all of them. He wants to be a part of the process.
Many have tried to give a natural explanation. Some think that it was a secretion from the Tamarask tree. Another was an extretion from an insect. God may have created manna from nothing or He may have miraculously mustered it by natural means. I say it’s a miracle because it happened on His scheduled (none on the sabbath) and it lasted during the wilderness wandering (40 years). It’s also a miracle for the enormous quantity that was produced. It had to be enough for 3 million people on a daily basis. If He brought from a tree, he channeled it by wind and brought it all to them.
A miracle was needed. It wasn’t possible for this many people to find enough food for their families. God will provide for us in our lives. Our needs probably won’t be about food. We have many other needs. Maslow’s Heirarchy of needs comes to mind: physiological, safety, social, esteem and self actualization. These five categories represent hundreds of applications. God is interested in all of them. He wants to be a part of the process.
As we yield to God’s lordship, He let’s life tutor us. Part of that is our dependance on Him. While we learn skills, knowledge and wisdom, we also gain dependance on Him. Philipians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” It says “in everything”. Paul also says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing”. Our prayers aren’t interupting Him. He would be disappointed, if we didn’t pray. We are to do our best and pray for His blessing. Sometimes we are stuck. Continue praying and keep trying.
His provision won’t be on the scale of manna, but there will be plenty that “save the day”. He helps constantly. Most of His help goes unnoticed by us. Lord, thank You for Your help. Help us to remember and to give thanks.