“Everyone is to gather as much as they need.” (Exodus 16:16 NIV)
One of the many miracles of manna is that we can always gather as much as we need. When I was a momma with small children, I didn’t require much manna. I certainly didn’t have great stretches of time to collect it. Whatever I could acquire in a few minutes between breastfeeding and diaper changing and toddler antics always seemed to be enough to to sustain my soul. When my mother was passing, my hours in the Word grew long. Manna was the only thing that mattered, the only thing that anesthetized the pain. This quarantine season feels similar, the news of the world is so loud, so sad and so worrisome that only manna, prayer and worship turn it down.
It is miraculous to me, that there’s always enough manna to be found. For decades now, I’ve been opening the same book each day in search of fresh sustenance. He’s faithful. There is always new covering of soul-satisfying mystery. I can always gather as much as I need.
“The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who had gathered much did not have too much and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone gathered just as much as they needed.” (Exodus 16:18 NIV)
Manna is design to sustain us on the journey between here and Home. We cannot affair to grow tired or dissatisfied with manna: it is what strengthens and sustains us. Without manna, we lose hope and without hope, we may well surrender to the temptations of wilderness travel: compliant, idol worship, or desertion. Manna keeps us connected to our Creator, in step with His cloud and moving in the right direction.
Lord, let us never tire of manna. May we instead look forward to the miracle of meeting with You each morning, eager to gather whatever you’ve laid before us. We trust that Your word to us will be just enough to fuel our soul’s for today’s leg of the journey. Thank You for Your faithful and miraculous provision. Amen.