Can't Live Off Yesterday's Manna

Exodus 16:13-21 gives us the heart of a specific episode in the life of the Israelites as they are walking through the desert that can offer a fine and right principle for us as Christians.  In it, we see that the Israelites, hungry and sick of walking through the wilderness, are grumbling at God.  God hears their grumbling and responds by offering a daily meal of quail and manna, the bread from heaven.

The one stipulation is that the Israelites may not save up any manna for the next day; each day has its own manna.  Of course, the Israelites, as they are want to do, disobey the Lord's request and collect enough manna for the next day.  However, when the Israelites go to the manna the next day they find it full of worms, completely spoiled.

The point is that the people of God were to rely solely on the grace of God for their sustenance everyday.  Every single day was an exercise in relying upon the promises of God.  This is the principle for Christians that we need to get.

God desires us to rest upon His promises daily.  Every day must begin and end and survive with the assured reality that we are seeking after God, trusting Him that He will provide for every need just as He has promised to provide it for us.  This is a perspective, to be sure, but it is also a daily exercise in faith.

After all, we can't live off yesterday's manna!