Let Every Man Gather It

Exodus 16:13-16

" .........., and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp and when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.

So when the children of Israel saw it they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.

And Moses said to them, "This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: 'Let every man gather it according to each one's need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.' "

(In Hebrew the word 'ma' means ‘what’?  So 'ma-na' is literally "what is it?”)

I was thinking of this manna that appeared on the ground every morning beneath the dew as it lifted, what a beautiful picture? By type, that in itself must hold some wonderful truths.

So, every single morning, all around the camp for 40 years while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, this supply took place.  The thought that occurred to me was that no matter where they were in the camp, every morning they could go out of the camp in any direction at all and find manna (God’s bread), it was all around .... and that's the point I'd like to share.  That regardless of which direction one chose, whether that was to traipse across camp and out through the other side, making hard work of it, or close by, it was all around the camp and impossible to miss.

Even with eyes shut, just head off in any direction and you would stumble into it eventually, besides a load of guy ropes and tents but that's what struck me...., the supply is there in abundance and can be found in any direction.... but it has to be collected.

Now an Omer is reckoned to be about 5lb apparently and The Lord said to collect an Omer per person, so when you consider that 600,000 men came out of Egypt with Moses, not counting women and children and also a great mixed multitude besides (Ex 12:37), then we're talking "loads of manna”!  One only has to look at nature to see how generous our Father is, where abundance is like his signature on everything. Therefore, this blanket of Manna that appeared fresh every day over the land must have stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction.

The reason I point this out, is to encourage folks (myself included), to dive into scripture more or less anywhere and have a read, or to follow up on a thought that's popped into one's mind, or something that's been laid on the heart....., that there are no hard and fast rules but just to do it, that's the thing...., since His Word is life to us when it speaks to our heart in some way. Instruction, comfort, guidance, wisdom, whatever we need. 

To do it by faith on the basis that his supply is there in abundance, fresh every day and that He wants us to feed on His Word, it's all around the camp, just waiting to be collected and He will see to it that we get the nourishment we need.  He wants us to seek... and to ask... and to enjoy the reward of finding. The Holy Spirit always pointing us to the Lord Jesus through the types and shadows of the Old Testament, or the rich seams of gold in the letters of Paul and the other apostles.  Also trusted ministries, such as Joseph Prince which has been a blessing for years and many others.

I believe it's a principle....and that we can dive in anywhere in scripture with a view to collecting food....it might be in studies that suit some of us....., or reading passages of scripture, or books and commentaries...., even just walking outside or looking through the window at the wonders of God's creation.  To quietly meditate on these things on and off during the day and He will speak to us if we are in that manna collecting mode.

The Lord often using the things around us to illustrate the Father's heart, such as the lilies of the field, and birds of the air, one's family.... etc, all with the purpose of bringing peace to our hearts and instilling trust in the goodness of God.

Psalm 19:1-3 "....... The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.”

There's a great verse in Proverbs 8:34...., one of my favourites, which makes me smile as I picture it, where the picture is of a person so keen for what God has to say that every day, he can be found hanging around God's front door, leaning against the doorpost.

Proverbs 8:34-35 Blessed is the man hearing me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso finds me finds life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Anyway, that was the thought that I wanted to share. That there's manna (God's bread from heaven), fresh every day, all around us, in absolute abundance wherever we choose to look for it.

Just so long as we look!

We're all the same, I'm sure, in that one day, all is well with the world and the next it feels like you're carrying it.... but the answer is always to look upon Jesus who loved us and gave himself for us, that's the truth isn't it? And so often just a word or thought from Him can change everything in a moment.

God bless.

Chris

Author: Chris Pople

February 2021