Yesterday's Manna

And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. Exodus 16:19-20 ESV

Most of us are familiar with manna, the bread from heaven God provided for the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness. Its very name was a question (manna means "what is it?") and it was a truly miraculous food. Exodus 16:14-18 records that it lay like dew on the ground and when it was gathered, it had an automatic measure that ensured that each person in a household received exactly an omer. There was no waste and there was no lack.

In addition to the portion that was to be gathered, instructions regarding how long the manna was to be kept were given. The Israelites were not to keep the manna till the next day except on the sixth day, the day before the Sabbath, when they were to gather double to maintain the law to honor the Sabbath by not working (v. 5, 22-23). The Israelites decided to ignore Moses's instructions and tried to keep their manna until the next day on a day other than the sixth day. When they did so, they got a nasty surprise. Their manna had become infested with worms and was foul-smelling!

Like the Israelites, we can take a miraculous blessing from God and try to use it when we want, rather than when He has told us. We may receive money, an idea, or some other provision from the Lord for a particular season in our lives and then try to save it for later instead of using it now. The provision has an appointed purpose and godly parameters in which it should be used. The Israelites' manna was not to be kept overnight except on the sixth day. When they disobeyed this instruction, foulness and worms resulted. You cannot rely on yesterday's manna today. Unless a special provision has been given, it will not make it past today. God promises to give us daily bread and asks us to trust Him to keep that promise. When we try to carry over yesterday's provision into today, unless it was meant to be carried over, we can be assured that the stench of disobedience will result.

Manna was not only a provision for the physical needs of the Israelites, it was also a test of their faithfulness. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not’” Exodus 16:4.  God isn't testing our obedience to the law anymore (Jesus's death and resurrection took care of all the requirements of the law), but He is looking to see who will love and trust Him by faith.

When the Lord gives you your daily bread, will you trust that it is for this day and use it? Or will you try to rely on yesterday's manna?