Daily Manna - Our Source of Daily Energy and Strength
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As I was driving to work one day, I caught myself doing something I have done many times before. I caught myself planning out my life 5 years and 10 years into the future.
But as I was doing this, I wasn’t just planning. I was living in the future. It’s funny to think about it because as I was planning things I would say, do, and accomplish in the next 5 to 10 years, I was giving up my time in the present! I was giving up my present life-force for an uncertain and uncontrollable future.
Not only did I feel foolish, but I felt the Holy Spirit convict of me this. I was convicted because as I was living in the future, I was telling God “What you’ve given me in this moment is not enough”. I was telling Him “I can do this on my own, and I don’t need you”. But thank God we have a Father who loves us enough to tell us when we’re wrong. And so, through the conviction of His Spirit, He reminded me that His daily manna was more than enough.
You might be asking yourself what in the world is daily manna?
Daily manna dates back to the story of Israel being freed from their Egyptian captors. Many of us are familiar with this story and how God miraculously delivered them by causing 10 plagues to fall upon Egypt and how He parted the Red Sea to make a way for them to cross and escape from their enemies. But this was just the beginning of Israel’s story of deliverance. A 40-year journey of faith would face them as they left Egypt in search of God’s promised land.
During this 40-year journey, the Israelites’ faced many challenges that tested their faith in God. They were faced with periods of no water and no food. But each time God proved His faithfulness and ability to provide.
One of God’s provisions came in the form of manna, which we see introduced in Exodus 16.
Exodus 16:15-20 NKJV
So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’ ” Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank.
After the children of Israel begin to complain from hunger, God sends literal angel’s food, known as manna, to sustain them. But God gives one caveat to this provision – the Israelites would only be allowed to gather enough for one day. Any surplus of manna they gathered would rot and no longer serve a purpose for the next day (other than to stink lol).
I believe this instruction from God was meant to teach the Israelites complete reliance and dependence upon Him. God was illustrating that the grace He gave them each day is sufficient for that day, and if they wanted grace for the next day, they would have to look to Him rather than their own strength and resources.
And so, as I was driving thinking about how I would overcome obstacles and achieve goals in the next 5 years and 10 years of my life, I was reminded that just like the Israelites were commanded to only gather enough manna for the day, I too am in need of God just to get through today because it is His strength that sustains me in every moment.
Since then, I choose to pray this every morning and although I still have visions and desires for the future, I choose to live in God’s present strength and rely on His wisdom, strength, and guidance.
Lord Jesus, I can do nothing apart from you. All that I have done and accomplished, all that I have, is because of You. I thank you for all that you’ve given me, and I ask that you grant me energy and strength just for today.
