“When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.” Exodus 16:18
Have you ever been on a long road trip and found yourself getting hungry and thirsty? Maybe you stopped at a gas station and picked up some snacks and drinks to hold you over until you reach your destination. But what if you were on a road trip that lasted 40 years? That’s how long the Israelites journeyed in the wilderness. Yet God provided for them every step of the way.
In Exodus 16, we see God providing the Israelites with food in the form of manna. He gave each family exactly what they needed for each day’s meals. If they gathered too much, it would spoil, but if they gathered too little, they would be hungry. God knew exactly how much each family needed and provided accordingly. It was a daily reminder that God is the ultimate provider. Not only did God provide food, but He also made sure the Israelite’s shoes and clothing never wore out. Can you imagine wearing the same clothes and shoes for 40 years? But God miraculously preserved their clothing and shoes. It was another reminder that God is faithful and provides for our every need. Yet, despite God’s provision, the Israelites still complained. They grumbled about the manna, saying they longed for the food they ate in Egypt. They forgot that God had delivered them from slavery and was providing for them in the wilderness. It’s easy for us to judge the Israelites, but we’re guilty of the same thing. Despite God’s provision for our families, we still complain. We grumble about our jobs, our finances, and our circumstances. We forget that God is faithful and always provides for our needs.
The root of Israel’s problem was that they did not see God as God and trust Him. They saw Him as a means to an end, a way to get what they wanted. They forgot that God is the source of all provision and that He is worthy of our trust. It’s easy to fall into the same trap. We can become so focused on what we want that we forget about God. We can forget that He is the one who provides for us and sustains us. The question we need to ask ourselves is “What’s the solution?” We need to place our spiritual eyes on God and realize that He will provide for us. We need to trust Him, even when we don’t understand what’s happening in our lives. We need to remember that God is faithful and that He will never leave us or forsake us. When we do this, we will see that God is the ultimate provider, and we will find peace and contentment in His presence. We need to trust Him and place our spiritual eyes on Him. When we do this, we’ll see that God is faithful, and we’ll find peace and contentment in His presence. Let’s take our eyes off of ourselves and our circumstances and place them firmly on God. He is the ultimate provider, and He will never let us down.