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The day God provided a ram to be sacrificed in the place of his son Isaac, Abraham called that place Jehovah Jireh, meaning “The Lord will provide.”(1) That day was to be a reminder to all generations that the Lord will provide. He will be faithful to provide just what is needed at the exact time it is needed. He is seldom early; but He is never late! He seldom provides in the manner we anticipate; but He always provides in a way that is sufficient. That was true for Abraham and Isaac, it was true for Moses and the Israelites, and it is true for us today.
God promised Moses and the Israelites that each morning He would provide bread that would be sufficient for every person for the day – everyone would have their fill.(2) After the people had gotten over the shock that this “white, flaky stuff” was God’s bread for them, they set about the process of gathering what was needed for their household. God’s provision, though “packaged” in a very unexpected way, came with very specific instructions.
He gave them a specific quantity to collect for each person. Each household was not to collect the same quantity – it would vary based upon the size of their family, but they would receive the same proportion. God reiterated through Moses’ instruction that as each household followed His instruction their need would be fully met – they would have just enough.
God promised that His provision would be unending (until He said otherwise) and would be sufficient for each day – He would meet today’s need today, and tomorrow’s need tomorrow. His provision was assured – not because of what He had provided in the past, but because of what He had promised for the present and the future. And as they followed His instruction, each family had just what they needed, and all that they needed.
Lest there be any confusion, Moses admonished them, “Do not try and horde God’s provision. Do not try and keep any of it overnight.” God’s provision was predicated on His promise and their obedience to His instruction.
There were some who would not listen; some whose trust was in themselves and their own abilities to collect more, consume less and conserve for tomorrow. Are those abilities or actions wrong? No, not unless they are in direct disobedience to God. They were placing their faith and trust in their own ability and not in God, and they were directly disobeying His command. In essence, they were saying, “God, You were able to provide today, but You may not be able to provide tomorrow, so I’m going to help You out.” And the result was the same that occurs whenever we disobey God today – maggots and malodor – the fruit of death and decay.
Wherever you are in your journey – if you are following Him (which incidentally is a VERY important “if”) – God has promised to provide ALL you will need to accomplish the journey. (If, however, you have decided to go your own way, the promise no longer holds true.) But if you are following Him, He has promised to provide in a way that you will know – as will those who are watching you – that He is Jehovah Jireh – the Lord who provides. His provision is a part of His purpose that will lead to His glory. There was no denying the ram caught in the bush, the manna appearing each morning, or the countless ways you and i have seen Him supply just what is needed at just the right time.
If you are His child, He has chosen you to be a vessel though whom He makes His Name known. Therefore, heed the instruction He has given you. Be obedient in all that He has set before you to do. Do not take matters into your own hands. God never said that He helps those who help themselves. That’s the lie that leads to maggots and malodor.
Do not slack from what He has told you to do. Heed His instruction – be faithful and diligent. Remember that His provision is assured – not because of what He has provided in the past, but because of who He is and what He has promised. And if you will trust Him, you, too, will once more find that His provision will be fully sufficient for the day.
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You can read about the bread that God provided the Israelites in the sixteenth chapter of the Book of Exodus.
This post is taken from chapter 15 of my book, The Journey Begins. For more information about the book, click here.
(1) Genesis 22:14
(2) Exodus 16:12, 15-20 (NLT)
"I have heard the people's complaints. Now tell them, 'In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'" …And Moses told them, "It is the food the LORD has given you. The LORD says that each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person." So the people of Israel went out and gathered this food -- some getting more, and some getting less. By gathering two quarts for each person, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. Then Moses told them, "Do not keep any of it overnight." But, of course, some of them didn't listen and kept some of it until morning. By then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell.
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