“This is the thing that the Lord has commanded, let every man gather it according to each one’s need” Exodus 16:16 NKJV
Within the 24 hours of a daily cycle here on this planet lies a beautiful rhythm. And why should it be anything less than beautiful considering God created it? The sun rises and sets, the moon ascends and falls, and the tides follow the lead of their heavenly directors, ebbing and flowing in a global symphony of waves. And within that cycle the creatures of the earth react in a natural way sleeping, eating, and producing when the proper time calls them to. But when you think about the natural daily call to feed your human body physically, have you ever deeply considered the natural call to feed it spiritually?
One of the most fascinating provisions in the Word God is the bread He rains from heaven in the book of Exodus. In it, God not only feeds his children physically, but teaches them lessons galore about Himself and the daily human need of God. Only one month out of Egyptian slavery and only a few months after seeing God split the Red Sea wide open, the people get hungry. And folks, there is a physical truth in this world, when people get hungry, they get grumpy. And I don’t know if you have ever heard over one million people grumble, but Moses has. We are told in Exodus 16:2 that the whole congregation grumbled against Moses and Aaron as they let their grumbling bellies create grumbling words. And it is here that we see God, yet again, fill the needs of His people.
Manna, meaning “what is it?”, fell from the sky each morning. A white powdery substance that fell evenly across the surface, it needed to be carefully collected in order to be cooked and eaten. And God was clear in His instruction, each must collect their own. It was not acceptable for one person to collect for others. It was not appropriate for the high priest to collect it for his congregation. It was not ok for a wealthy family to pay others to do it for them. And there was no governmental manna collection station to distribute to those unwilling to collect it themselves. You see, God is always teaching. And the lessons He taught and continues to teach in the manna is a lesson that still speaks loudly today.
In John 6:48-51 Jesus clearly makes the manna parallel clear:
“I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:48-51
The beauty of this passage speaks to eternal salvation that lies in redemption through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But in addition to that it also speaks of the daily nourishment that is needed to be spiritually healthy in Christ as you live in that redemption before being called to your real home, Heaven. You see, you feed yourself daily in order to keep your body healthy, but what are you feeding yourself spiritually to remain healthy every day? And it is here that I see so many lessons to be drawn from the manna in the wilderness about the daily abiding process in Jesus Christ.
1) It’s a daily process. God instructed His people to go out each and every morning to collect the bread in which they needed to survive. (except sabbaths) It is no different in collecting the bread of life that sustains us spiritually. Are you enjoying a rich and robust time feasting on the Word of God each and every morning? If not, you are starving yourself spiritually and not enjoying the spiritual health that God intends for you. “But Jesus replied, ‘“It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
2) It’s a personal process. God was extremely clear in that the collection process of the daily manna was a personal process. (Exodus 16:16) Each one was to rise in the morning and collect the manna which they would feed upon for one day. No more, no less. And folks, so it is with your daily abiding process in feeding spiritually upon the Word of God. Your pastor cannot eat the Word of God for you, only giving it to you once a week. Your Sunday school teacher cannot gather it for you and give you enough for 7 days. You must gather it for yourself and consume it yourself in order to receive the spiritual health it offers. “But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night.” Psalm 1:2
3) It’s a process that involves effort. If the Israelites wanted manna they had to get up, suit up, and show up. Folks, the process of abiding daily in Christ is no different. You can’t feast upon the Word of God if you aren't even willing to open up your Bible. This is where I see so many anemic Christians starving spiritually. They want something for nothing, they want someone else to do it for them, or they think they can live off of the manna that someone else collected. If you look around at people you know that are thriving spiritually, I promise you, they are collecting the manna of God’s Word each and every day without exception, no matter the cost or the circumstance. “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” Psalm 25:8-9
Christian brothers and sisters, it’s a simple as pie…your productivity for Christ and His kingdom depends directly on your ability to thrive in Him through abiding in Him daily. It’s daily, it’s personal, and it will require effort of you. I pray you readily rise each morning, gather the bread of life, and feast upon it to see your soul spiritually nourished to overflowing in order to do what the Lord has called you to.
Rich blessings to each of you ~ Dan
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5
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