LESSONS FROM THE MANNA
Psalm 119:105.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path.”
God’s word is of vital importance in our lives. God’s word is often compared along with bread as it says in Matthew 4:4.
“Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Just like we need bread to sustain our physical bodies, we need bread “the word of God Jesus” to sustain our spiritual lives. John 1:1 says “In the beginning was the word, the word was with God. The Word was God.”
Yes, so the word is the triune God and his words are written in the Bible. Jesus in John 6:48 says: “Yes, I am the bread of life. “
So here we see that God sends the manna, the bread of heaven as a shadow to what is to come. Today we have Jesus. His holy Spirit, His word available as Holy Scriptures.
Let us learn a few lessons from the manna God sent.
(i) The manna was to be collected every day
The same way, we cannot have Jesus with us only during festivals or difficult times. He is to be communed with every day. Tasted every day. Fellows hipped with every single day of our life.
(ii) The manna was to be collected in limited portions:
There is never a single moment that we can have all of God. It is a life time process. Jesus asked us to pray in Matthew 6:11. Give us this day our daily bread. God will reveal himself only upto what He thinks is relevant and required for us and that will satisfy us (Story)
(iii)The manna dissappeard at the sun rise.
Even in our lives we tend to forget God, his word and promises as the day progresses. The heat of problems, the pressure tends to make us forget our standing with God. But the manna disappeared. But we have a helper, the Holy Spirit who never leaves us nor forsakes us. He keeps reminding us of the teaching of Jesus. (John 14:26). So that we can continue to commune with God and have the mind of Christ.
(iv)Everyday they had to go out to collect manna. It did not fall into their bowls.
The same way Jesus is the Manna. He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent but unless we reach out to Him unless we take an effort to go daily into His presence, we cannot experience Him. Many people say, well if God already knew every word that I am going to speak even before, I think of why should I pray? If God knows my problems already why does he not help me, if only because we have not asked.
The Bible says in John John 16:24, “Unitl now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.”
The price has been paid already. All we have to do is to go and claim the relationship, we have in Christ through his blood.
(v)There is a test involved in while collecting the manna.
Even though it was the bread from heaven there were certain instructions to be followed. God said in Exodus 16:4. “Everyday the people must go out and gather what they need for that day. I want to see if the people will do what I teach them.”
Some people think on reading the Bible everyday, praying everyday, going to church every week is religiosity and they are not required. In my heart I know that Jesus is the only true God and that’s enough. But there are certain instructions in the Bible that we should follow to have a real spiritual life in order to receive our eternal life in heaven. The Bible says in John 6:53-56 Jesus said “So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.54 But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.”
John 15:77 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
John 14:23
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.
Therefore we must eat of Him, love and enjoy in His presence and follow and obey His teachings everyday to grow in Him, dwell with Him.
So don’t miss a day without reading His word. Even if you are very tired, spend a few moment with the Lord. I encourage you to go to His presence at the beginning and end of each day to receive forgiveness from him and strength to face the day and sleep in peace to face the new day even more stronger.
For truly His word is lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We need him every single second.
Stay blessed.
Merilyn Jemimah Amirtharaj.
