“NO MORE MANNA”
(Joshua 5:1 – 7:26)
The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.” – Joshua 5:11-12
Have you ever experienced a time when God has supernaturally supplied whatever you needed? I know I have! There have been times in my life when it seemed as though the bottom fell out of my resources. I didn’t know how I was going to make it. But, God! In ways I would not know, and means completely unexpected, all my needs were met! Praise God!
When you have experienced these things, there can be a temptation to think you never need to do anything – you can just wait on God, and He will provide everything. But, that is NOT how God works, nor is it His plan! This is precisely what the nation of Israel needed to learn! God had miraculously provided food – manna – for the Israelites while they were in the wilderness. But, now, in the promised land, He provided food from the land itself.
Prayer is not an alternative to preparation, and faith is not a substitute for hard work. God can and does provide miraculously for His people as needed, but He also expects them to use their God-given talents and resources to provide for themselves!
Simple Truth:
If your prayers seem to have gone unanswered, perhaps what you need is already within your reach! Pray instead for the wisdom to see it and the energy and motivation to do it.
Reflections:
- Has your “manna” stopped appearing? Rather than become discouraged, look around and see what the Lord is wanting you to do now!
- When we are children, our parents provide for everything we need. But, they also help us to discover how to utilize our God-given talents and abilities, and use them to become mature adults!
Application:
- There comes a time when rather than having someone pay for us, we need to learn to pay it forward!
- It is said that some people are “so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.” We must have our minds on the things of the Lord, but we also need to realize that if you don’t work, you don’t eat! (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
Closing Prayer:
Lord, I thank you for providing everything I need according to your riches in glory. Thank you for the giftings and abilities you have birthed in me, allowing me to develop those gifts, and using them for Your glory In Jesus’ name, amen.
About our Author
Tim Satryan has been in full time ministry since 1980. He has served five churches in four states. He has also served as the District Youth and Music Director for the PennDel Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God, was the Presbyter for the state of Delaware for over a decade, and for a number of years traveled with the AG Church Multiplication Network, teaching church planting and church revitalization.
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