“Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD. (Exodus 16:4-8)

The Israelite’s were in the middle of the wilderness of the hot and harsh desert; marching out of Egypt and trudging towards the Promised Land. They soon began to realize their journey was not going to be easy or painless. In fact, it seemed to be downright horrible and relentless.

The Israelites began to feel miserable and to murmur and complain against Aaron and Moses because they felt lacked the necessary sustenance needed for their journey. They viewed their immediate circumstances, taking note of their lack of resources, removing their eyes off of God, who had already promised to divinely supply all their need.

God heard their complaining. God does not need a prosperous economy or bountiful fields full of harvest to provide for His children. He promised to provide an evening portion of quail; and manna every morning raining down with the dew from heaven for the Israelites.

God intended for the Israelites to gather this sustenance daily. Moses told them to gather just enough to cover their immediate needs, enough to provide for each man in their tent according to their eating. It was not necessary for them to gather and store these provisions towards future needs. His divine supply was promised to be new each morning, proving their faith in Him. The sixth day was an exception. God promised to provide twice as much on the fifth day, allowing them rest on the sixth day. They were bound under law from Moses to rest on this day, as God did rest after finishing His creation.

Some of the Israelites did not heed the words of Moses who told them not to leave the manna for the next morning. The manna which was kept left over for the next day now bred worms and stank. Harboring the manna angered Moses and each were told again to gather according to their immediate needs and the allowance made for the Sabbath day. The manna now left on the ground melted in the warmth of the sun each day. The Israelite’s were fed this sustenance daily until they reached the Promised Land. This was forty years.

Today is your barn and silo filled to overflowing? Do you have more abundance than you can use for your immediate needs? God intends for us to be responsible in our stewardship of His resources; not expecting us to grip tightly all that he provides and Storing away treasures for rainy days or the needs of tomorrow. God is already at work in our tomorrows. He intends for us to keep the circle of blessing flowing towards others in need, especially those who are in the spiritual family of God.
When we pick up our cross living sold out to His will; God promises to supply our needs as we move in OBedience to His call. Especially those who have honored Him faithfully; being good stewards of His time, service, and pleased Him with financial tithing as well.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Is your manna gathering mold, worms, rusting away, or lying in wait of corruption or thieves to confiscate and enjoy on their own selfish pleasures?

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

The world tells us to save for retirement, save for a rainy day, save for an economic disaster, save for a personal emergency- save, save, save.

Provision, in the economic plan of God, is not necessarily financial in nature and it is not necessarily meant to be stored away for future needs. Financial and material possessions are subject to deterioration, mold, and rot upon this earth and heaven has no need of any financial or earthly treasures.

The foremost important need is spiritual in nature. Often we are more focused on meeting financial and material needs, and cast spiritual needs aside as we come to the deserts of life, reaching instead for temporary worldly goods that quickly melt away as the heat of trials are turned up a notch or two.

God always sees and clearly knows our needs, the motives in our heart, and blesses us accordingly, here on this earth and even more so splendidly in heaven to come.


To Contemplate Further:

Are you in the business of storing earthly treasures here on earth where they are destroyed by rot, rust, and mold? Or are you stacking up spiritual treasures and yearning towards that eternal home in Heaven?