The word manna most commonly refers to the miraculous food described in the Bible that God provided to sustain the ancient Israelites during their forty years wandering in the desert. In Hebrew, the word manna translates literally to “What is it?”- the question the Israelites asked when they first saw the mysterious white flakes covering the ground. I have wondered many times what it would have been like to be wandering in the desert with such uncertainty and then suddenly be enveloped with the blessing of manna.

One of the most important things to remember about this passage in Exodus 16 is that the manna must be gathered for the day – it would not last until tomorrow. The Israelites could not store up for the future; they had to simply trust that God would provide provision for the next day. “Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.”

Exodus 16:4. How can we apply this to our own story? One thing I have been leaning into over the last few years is that I cannot go back. Just like they could not return to Egypt, it is imperative that we too keep moving boldly as we let go of the comfortability and look forward to the promise. God heard the grumblings of the people and knew they couldn’t eat the promise, but He was teaching them to depend on Him as their source which is ultimately the greatest supply. Jesus, our Bread of Life, is the reflection of manna in our daily lives. It is my prayer each day that God only provide my husband and I with our daily bread as illustrated in the Lord’s Prayer.

I don’t want to worry about tomorrow or look in the rear view of the past – I only want what God has for us today. “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Matthew 6:11. How can we gather manna for our families each day? One thing I am going to work on myself is practicing the gathering of this spiritual food when I wake up each morning. In His instructions, God ordered the Israelites to gather their manna first thing before the sun got hot or their opportunity melted away. Just like the manna, I believe time spent in the Word or through prayer is best done early in the day, when we first arise – when we are at our freshest. “ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Matthew 6:33. Our promise of God’s faithfulness will not melt away if we fail to gather our manna early every day, but it is a beautiful display of our commitment to the Lord and the riches of His glory. I have found that my trust in the Source has grown stronger in this season of manna.

There is no oversupply, there is no extra, there is no abundance – there is just enough provision for the day that God has gifted me. This time in our lives has also been a reminder that our joy should not come only when we are comfortable, but also when our faith is stretched and the supply seems limited. Have you been stuck worried about surviving tomorrow? I would encourage you to read Exodus 16 and practice asking God for your daily bread. When our hearts are aligned with His promise, you will begin to witness the amazing ways He blesses you each day – maybe in ways you didn’t see before. The manna is falling…will you gather today?

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 6:20.

Blessings, Kayla