April 14, 2020

One month after leaving Egypt, the Israelites began to grumble and complain against Moses and Aaron, saying – “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt! There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now, you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death!” After only a month out of Egypt, the people complained.

The Lord responded to the complaints of the people by providing manna (see Exodus 16:13-20). Manna was a flaky substance that appeared after the dew every morning. The instructions from the Lord was that they were to take enough of this heavenly food for each family in their tents. They were to take only enough for the day. If they took more than what was needed, it would spoil and be filled with maggots.

They were to take only what they needed for the day. They didn’t need anything for yesterday and they would need any for tomorrow. The Lord would provide for tomorrow. This daily provision is the key to understanding what Jesus was driving at in His prayer when He told the disciples, “give us this day our daily bread”. We don’t need anything for yesterday, because yesterday is gone. And we don’t need to worry about tomorrow, because the Lord has that under control.

We have been about a month into this new way of living in the wilderness because of COVID-19. And we might be feeling a bit grumpy or a bit on edge. Remember, the Lord has provided you with His daily bread: His daily provision to get through the day. Maybe you need patience, or peace, or joy, or courage, or perseverance. Whatever it is that you need, the Lord already knows what it is and Has already provided it. Just receive it by faith, and praise Him for it. But don’t fall into the trap of self pity and start complaining. Jesus is your daily bread, partake of Him and His word and you will have all you need for another day in this wilderness.

Prayer: Father, we have been living under these self isolation conditions because of this virus for about a month. I thank you for all your grace and provision. And I thank you for your daily bread. I thank you that Jesus is my daily bread. Thank you, Jesus, for all that you are and as I submit myself to you today – fill me with the power and strength that I need for this day. I choose to walk in your strength, peace and power. I will not complain, but I will embrace an attitude of gratitude. Come and fill me Holy Spirit so that I am only satisfied in you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen