When God provides "just enough"

Growing up, my parents trained me to always bring extra money with me wherever I go. The reason for this, is because I'll never know when there's an emergency. I might stay up late at school, and I needed to buy food. It might rain, so I need to take a cab. My professor might give us an immediate project, so I need to buy materials. This has been my life training so I would always bring that extra cash with me like its a sense of security.

But this week, God taught me something different.

I was on my way somewhere when God told me to bring just a specific amount. So I asked, "but why, Lord? I need to have extra money you know that" But the Holy Spirit is so specific and very clear in His instructions. I don't know the reason for this, but I know I have to be obedient and so I just followed.

This morning, when I opened my bible reading plan, I am scheduled to read Exodus 16 Story of the Manna and Quail.

V.4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

V. 13-21 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?”[a] For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.

This passage opened my eyes, This is exactly what God is teaching me. When God brought the Israelites to the desert, He provided them everything. A cloud to guide them by day, fire by night, even quail and manna so they have food to eat. However, the Lord have a few commands:

1. Take only an omer (an ancient unit of volume for grains and dry commodities)

2. Do not leave extra food for the next day (but those who did, their food got spoiled.)

I thought to myself "This is me. God is teaching me how to live with just enough." Sure, God is a good provider, and He wants us to ask all the best things and He is more than willing to pour out the floodgates of heaven for us. But when God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, and gave specific instructions in gathering food, He is teaching them an important lesson: To trust God that tomorrow, He will provide again. They did not need to hoard food for the next day, because God's provision is available on a daily basis. And so with this, they learned how to live with just enough and with the Lord providing them with everything day by day. You see, God knows that the security of their hearts have been attached to their daily food. But God is teaching them that neither food nor riches is their security. Because God is.

I was also reminded by a teaching a learned a long time ago, that storing food, is an Egyptian mindset. They need to gather food and store it in their storehouses so that they'll have enough supply in the future. Afterall, it is also a symbol of wealth during their time. But when God rescued His people, they wanted them to unlearn this custom. He wants them to understand that the God that they serve is a generous God, and even in the desert, He will provide on a daily basis. I'm not saying that it's unwise to store food or save up some money for future use, what I'm implying here, is the wrong attitude of the heart where our money becomes our security.

After reading this story, it just opened my heart and gave me understanding to what God is teaching me. God exposed my heart, that the reason I want to always have that something "extra" is because that's fear ruling over me and instead of resting my heart secured in Him, my security comes from that extra I have in my pocket. He wants me to unlearn this custom i got used to and He wants me to know that because He is a good God, I will not lack.. Neither do I need to worry because tomorrow, He again will provide.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank you for this truth. I repent for the times I have worried about what I'm going to eat or drink for tomorrow when I know that you are a good God. Even the birds in the air you feed them, and so I don't need to worry because I am so much valuable than they. Help me to unlearn the customs I got used to that is not in line with your character. Lord may I always remember that you are a generous God that even in the desert you will provide and each day, your supply will always be enough for me. Today I choose to trust your goodness, and faithfulness, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

"The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing"- Psalm 34:10

#manna #quail #exodus16 #Jesus #God #Christianity #provision