25. The Manna code: Learn to Trust Him (Ex 16:16-36)

 The Manna code: Learn to Trust Him

The Lord gave them Manna. But there was a rule to keep.

πŸ‘‰ Read Exodus 16:16-36

What rule was required in gathering Manna? (two, 16-18, 29-30)

 

 Why did God put such restrictions? (4)

 

Why did the Lord command Moses to keep manna in a jar for the following generations? (32-34)

 

Answers and Meditation

Take only one day’s need, don’t go out on Sabbath

Now God’s several commands were given to see if they would obey or not. But each time, they disobeyed.

Each person needed to gather what he or she needed, not as much as one could. Some gathered less or some more in amount, but none lacked for each one’s need. We focus on how much we earn and, thus, get stressed if we have gotten less than others. God’s provision meets each one’s need, not desire.

“Do not leave until the next morning.” It was not a monthly or weekly provision but a daily one. God wants to teach them to rely on Him every day.

On the Sabbath, the ‘carry over’ Manna didn’t go bad not, like the other days. It is God’s work.

Some went out on Sabbath but got nothing. No matter how hard you try, you will get nothing if you do not follow God's instructions.

 

To test if they walk in the law of God or not

Does God, who knows everything, test them to know whether they trust or not? God often tests humans to reveal their faith or weaknesses. In doing that, God reveals God’s goodness and their evilness so that they would stop seeking their own ways and grow more in trusting God, who provides our daily needs, satisfies us, and gives us the rest of the Sabbath. (He does not give us rest by giving years' food, but by trusting God.)

God wants to make our hearts seek the Lord, the source of satisfaction and rest, not the food itself.

“You will be satisfied with bread, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God” (16:12) The LORD wants to satisfy us (16:8) and can do so by raining bread from heaven (16:4).

 

To make them remember God fed their ancestors

“What is it?”(16:15)  they didn’t know what it was. The Lord provided them with a mysterious way. He created all from nothing. God’s way is beyond their experience and imagination. We should never lose hope in the Lord, even when there seems no solution. 

In the wilderness, the Lord fed their ancestors for forty years, not forty days or forty weeks. Know that the Lord can feed you your entire life.


When God asked them to keep Manna for generations, He promised in an implicit way that He would provide solutions for future unknown problems. 

Steps of trusting the Lord: 1) Be content with God's daily provision. 'Gather daily needs and don't leave for tomorrow.' 2) Obey His instruction for tomorrow's known needs. 'Gather double in the sixth. No Manna on the Sabbath.' 3) Trust the Lord for His unfathomable way of salvation for unknown needs of the future. 'Take Manna and place it before the Lord to be kept for generations to come'

 

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