The Provision of our Daily Bread

“Give us this day our daily bread,” Matthew 6:11

Like the changing seasons, we each go through different periods of highs and lows in life. Inevitably, we must all face a winter season- a season of cold fears, trials, and lacking what we need. As winter prepares the earth for spring, so do our winter seasons strengthen and grow our faith in preparation for the next stage. Our insufficiency helps us to depend on God. Where we lack, He provides. I’ve had no shortage of worries this year. From financial strain to pregnancy anxieties to adjusting to life with a newborn, I felt pressure from all the areas where I was lacking. God has pulled me through every trial in life, showing me again and again that He will provide. Yet, the more difficult the trials, the more I found myself back in the same position- locked fists, anxious heart.

Manna from Heaven

When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and brought them through way of the wilderness, He provided daily manna for them, which is described as “bread from the Lord” (Exodus 16:15) and being “like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey,” (Exodus 16:31). Though they had just seen God’s wonders (parting of the Red Sea, frog plague, etc.), they didn’t want the manna. It was something new and strange that they had never encountered before and so they began to miss the quail they’d eaten in Egypt as slaves. They preferred what was familiar, even if it was toxic, rather than face something new that God was providing.

“When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’”

The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.” Exodus 16:14-21

Our Daily Bread

The manna could only be eaten the day it was received- not a day before or after. In fact when the Israelites tried to store the manna to eat the following day, it began to rot. God wanted them to know that He was their daily bread, providing for their every need. In the same way, God reminds us that we needn’t stress looking to the future or to the past. We can’t save the manna for tomorrow. We can only have our fill for today. He will provide what we need day to day, moment to moment. There will be enough provision for today, if I would only let go of the familiar pattern of anxiety and trust my Provider. If I would only open my stubborn fists and surrender to depend fully on Him.

I pray this will be a reminder to you to take things slow and be present in each moment, trusting that He will supply what you need for that day. Stop striving and let God be your provider.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35