GOD, THE PROVIDER

We cry out to God for our needs. He provides. Then our human selfishness, since the fall of man, takes over and we allow greed to set in, WANTing more than what God thinks we NEED. From the beginning of mankind, God provided. He provided Adam and Eve everything they needed to eat…with specific instruction for their own good. “Don’t eat from that tree in the middle of the garden”, but they did, convinced they needed more. Are we like that?

Moses, God’s spokesperson, gives very specific directions about the manna to be collected each morning, the food that will meet their NEED for hunger. (Manna in Hebrew is translated the “what is it?”) Sometimes we don’t even know what we need…I relate to calling it the “what is it?”. 

“Moses told them, ‘It is the food the LORD has given you. The LORD says that each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person.'” Exodus 16:16, NLT Yes, pretty specific directions, easy to follow, but does everyone obey? Nope. 

“But, of course, some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. By then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. And Moses was very angry with them.” Exodus 16, NLT

“The people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need.” Everyone “gets it” now and is on track with what God’s best for them. Yes!

Now you must REMEMBER what the LORD, God has done for you…God directs Moses to “Take two quarts of manna and keep it forever as a treasured memorial of the LORD’s provision. By doing this, later generations will be able to see the bread that the LORD provided in the wilderness when he brought you out of Egypt.” 

“Moses said to Aaron, ‘Get a container and put two quarts of manna into it. Then store it in a sacred place as a reminder for all future generations.’ Aaron did this, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. He eventually placed it for safekeeping in the Ark of the Covenant. So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived in the land of Canaan, where there were crops to eat.” Exodus 16, NLT

What does His Story tell us about Him? God is our Provider. He gives us what we need in a way that is best for us in our current circumstance. He also wants us to declare His Glory by remembering all those times that He provided and retell of His times of provision, so others will know who God is and what He has done and will do for them. One last lesson in His story that jumps off the page is, don’t be greedy. Take only what is needed. Jesus, who called Himself the Bread of Life, reminded us to give away what has been given to you. (Example, if a man asks for your cloak…give him your shirt, too! Luke 6:30) The LORD will still provide for you. Simple obedience. 

Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word speaks volumes to us, again, today! Thank you for these reminders, this conviction, and this encouragement to live simply in pure obedience to your specific directions. You know what is best for us. We believe. By your power living in us, may we live what we say we believe today. In Jesus Name, Amen.