Raining Bread

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days’” Ex 16:4-6.

One of the most repeated stories from the Bible is the story of the manna that God provided in the desert for the Israelites. It has been told so many times it is easy to lose sight of the enormity of the miracle. These people went out daily and gathered the same amount as they became accustomed to what their individual household needed. It’s not like they had to work harder on the 6th day to receive a double portion. It’s not that they worked longer hours on the others days to receive the double portion. They received the double portion because they obeyed God and trusted Him for His word…their provision would be enough and it would take the same amount of time to gather it. They had a choice…they could believe or they could strive and search…they could be blessed or miss the blessing. 

And yet, we experience our own bread falling from heaven…our own provisional miracle day after day. Most times receiving that supernatural divine activity is predicated upon our obedience and belief. Will we remain in our tents and recognize the double portion of God’s grace…mercy when we don’t deserve it…energy when we are tired…comfort when we are anxious…money when we are broke…all double portions. 

‘When we curtail our efforts and interests in obedience to the Spirit’s conviction – resisting the gnawing sense of guilt or compulsion to keep pressing beyond the boundaries, beyond that which honors God – He will bless our obedience and sustain us. He will miraculously give twice the harvest, twice the fulfillment, twice the return, even though we haven’t done anything more to garner it…Believing that doing less can somehow produce more requires a resilient faith. It takes an unshakeable, concrete trust in God to maintain the confidence that allows you to stop, even when everything in you and around you says keep going. Keep pushing. Keep gathering. Keep persisting. That’s hard for a slave’ Priscilla Shirer, Breathe, p. 66-67. We must take God at His word and believe that the bread falling from heaven today is enough for our needs for tomorrow.
 
‘…and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD’ Ex 16:7.