What's Your Manna?

Have you ever had manna? Probably not in the literal form, as the children of Israel did on the journey to the Promised Land.  That was food sent from Heaven to the Israelites as they traveled through the wilderness after fleeing Pharaoh & the tyranny of Egypt.  It was a gift from God to nourish them in that wilderness place.  And it sustained them for the entire 40 years that they wandered in the wilderness.

So, I'll ask again...have you ever had manna? Maybe this will make it easier to answer.  Have you ever felt like you were wandering in a wilderness place in life? Like you're in a place where God seems distant? Like you've been left in a dry and desolate place for a purpose that isn't yet clear? But you have manna.

You have blessings that, when God first sent them to you, you cherished them, appreciated them, were thankful for them.  But as you wander in the wilderness, the realization of blessing wears off.  Like the children of Israel, what was once clear evidence of God's provision, care and blessing has now become normal, everyday and mundane.  But it's still manna.

It's still heaven sent blessing to nourish your body, your spirit, your emotions, your soul.  It hasn't changed. But your view of it has.  What it has the potential to provide you hasn't changed, but what you allow it to provide you isn't the same anymore.

So, one more time...have you ever had manna? Have you been blessed with a spouse who walks unfailingly with you through your wilderness? Do you have children who bring new life to your home daily? Do you have friends, or even just one friend, who stand by your side regardless of the wilderness you face? Do you have a roof over your head? Food on your table? A God who never leaves your side?

If you can answer yes to even one of these (although I'm betting you can answer yes to several...and come up with some of your own!) then you've had manna.  No, you have manna.

As you journey through your own personal wilderness, take notice of the manna.  Make a list of your own personal manna.  Cherish your manna.  Fix your eyes on your manna, not on your wilderness.  As you journey through your wilderness, with full awareness of the blessing of your manna, know that, just as God did for the children of Israel, He will sustain you with manna through your entire journey to your Promised Land.

Be Still, It's War

Have you ever really read the story of the Rea Sea? There's some great stuff there that gets overlooked because of the miracle of the Red Sea parting.  Yes, that's amazing, crazy, unbelievable.  But I think that story in Exodus chapter 14 has so much more to teach us!

The Israelites had escaped Egypt.  God was leading them through the wilderness.  Then He took Moses aside and told him to turn the people around, go back a bit, and make camp.  But here's the kicker.  God tells Moses that he will cause Pharaoh's heart to become stubborn and cause Pharaoh to change his mind about letting the Israelites go.  And He will cause Pharaoh to gather the army to chase after the Israelites in attempt to bring them back to captivity.  But then God tells Moses that He'll use the impending army attack for His glory.

Here's the thing.  Only Moses got that word.  The Israelites didn't.  So when they saw Pharaoh's army closing in and nothing but ocean in front of them they panicked.  Kind of like we do when we feel life closing in on us.  We've taken steps of faith that appear to be leading no where.  Our health has come under attack.  Our finances have come under attack.  Our relationships have come under attack.  But we know we're right where God led us to.  We're right where God has called us to be.

As the Israelites panicked, Moses looked at them and said, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." This had to seem CRAZY to the Israelites as they saw the Egyptian army closing in, but reluctantly they obeyed.  And God fought the battle.  He parted the Red Sea, delivered them and destroyed the Egyptian army.  And used the victory for His glory.  Just like He promised.

As you sit in that wilderness that God is leading you through and see you see the enemy's army (in whatever form that is for you) closing in, remember that God led you to this place.  He may have even caused this seemingly imminent attack.  At the very least, He's allowed it to happen.  But God knows what you don't.  He knows that soon your Red Sea will be parted and the attack that was meant to destroy you will bring Him glory and build your faith immeasurably.  Know that God has a plan.  Know that God has a path.  Know that God know what you need to walk down that path.  And know that when attack closes in, all you have to do is be still.  God will fight the battle for you.