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.
Exodus 16:14–18
The Lord’s people were in the wilderness. They had just left Egypt, and they were hungry (and complaining). So, the Lord gave them “just enough” food (manna) to get by.
Probably not the best tasting stuff. I’m sure the same meal got boring—but it was just enough. There are times when we are in overflow—job is great, bills are paid, money in the bank, kids are on the right track. When this happens, let’s rejoice and thank God for His goodness. Then, there are other times (like maybe today) when He gives us “just enough” so we can take one more step. That is when He is teaching us to trust Him on a daily (or sometimes hourly) basis, to test His Word and see for yourself that “His mercies are new every morning.”
God does not want us to gather tomorrow’s manna today. He wants us to rely on the Giver, not the gift, to trust Him to meet all our needs, and to expect that He will bring good things out of bad situations.
Today, let’s pray: Lord, allow us not to get stressed out over today and tomorrow. Allow us to stop fretting when we are alone. Help us to realize and understand and believe that You will never leave us nor forsake us and that no matter what life throws our way, Your love is everlasting.