As they travelled through the wilderness, God provided Israel with daily sustenance – bread (manna) by morning and meat (quail) by evening. (Exodus 16)
Every day, enough was provided for the needs of that single day. If you saved more than the needed amount it went bad and stunk! Except in preparation for the Sabbath, then extra saved overnight was good the next day.
At the end of their 40 years of wilderness experience their daily needs were no longer provided.
And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. (Exodus 16:35)
The memory of those 40 years of care was stored in the Ark of the Covenant as a memorial. (Exodus 16:34-35)
This gives me three thoughts to consider.
- Daily manna was just enough for the moment. This is found in the words of Jesus: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt 6:11, Luke 11:3). Just what I need. Just when I need it. But I am responsible to gather what God provides.
- This was not manna stored for lean times. It met immediate needs only. I must trust God to provide access at the right time.
- There are times and provision from God that last for a season. Afterwards, it is a memory to be cherished, but it has outlived what it was provided for. Particular times of care does come to an end.
How did God provide this miracle? I don’t know. It’s a miracle!