Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

This morning I was reading about the Lord giving the Israelites manna—a type of bread, that God provided daily for His people. What a powerful story filled with lessons that are relevant today.

When Moses was leading the people to the Promised Land, he had to take them through desert places. In those places, life was tough and it seemed to them as though they were always without provision. Consequently they often whined to Moses. Moses felt burdened and took it to God who would then instruct Moses how to receive provision for the people. He would feed them supernaturally with manna—a type of bread that tasted good and would nourish them. Each morning the ground would be covered with this manna. They had to go out and collect just enough for the day.

God’s Word reveals that this lesson about trusting God for manna daily is relevant to our lives today. It reminds us that the world we live in is a desert, void of God and full of anxiety for those that won’t seek God. When people don’t seek God, they become anxious over a multitude of issues that surface in their life every day. Because Moses sought God’s help in providing for His people, God ministered to them supernaturally providing manna—something they had to go out, pick up, and eat, every day! God instructed them that they weren’t allowed to hoard up or save up the manna beyond that day. If they did it would turn to maggots. The only exception to that was on the sixth day where they were allowed to save enough for two days so they could rest on the Sabbath. Did His people follow His instructions? No, just like us they liked security and wanted more than enough. But, when they disobeyed God, the extra they tried to save, turned to maggots.

God gives us insight in how this applies to our life today. He wanted them to know that this dependency upon Him—every day, was about more than just about food. It was about learning to depend upon God and His promises daily!
Deuteronomy 8:3 (TLB) “Yes, He humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to both you and your ancestors. He did it to help you realize that food isn’t everything, and that real life comes by obeying every command of God.”

Jesus and the Word of God are one. We see that in John 1:1 & 14 (NIV), “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” This is saying that Jesus and His Word are the same.

Jesus gave further insight pertaining to manna being His Word that we needed to eat daily. He said, “Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread (God’s Word) will live forever. (John 6:31 & 58 NIV) 

These scriptures are telling us that we are to no longer think in terms of eating manna from off the ground but we are to instead, feed on the bread of life—Jesus and His Word. Jesus and His Word are the same and His Word is the bread that when fed on, will cause us to be supernaturally nourished. God’s Word will give us direction, bring hope, build faith, and usher in supernatural help and peace. This is why when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He taught them this. Luke 11:3 And Jesus said, “When you pray, pray like this, “Give us day by day our daily bread.”  He wasn’t instructing His disciples to ask God for food to eat! He was teaching them to ask God to speak to their heart from His Word! This is the manna they were to eat daily! It was what would build their faith and trust in Him! It would supernaturally strengthen them!

As I read through that story, I was nourished by God. I was reminded that He brought water from a rock and the food of angels from Heaven to supernaturally provide for His own. They never went without provision! God always provided for them!  When we lean on and trust in His promises and have faith that He will take care of our every need, then His word will bring us the peace that passes human understanding. All this from eating manna—God’s Word and promises that are to speak daily to our heart as we eat His daily bread.  Manna is for everyone, at every age, every day and it fresh each day. It’s Fresh Manna!

Deuteronomy 8:3 (NLT) “…man does not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” 

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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