Stale. Stinking. Spoiled. The people woke early in the morning to the disappointment of yesterday’s leftovers gone rotten. Worms flooding over jars that only 24 hours ago overflowed with sweet fresh and unseen goodness. Blinded by the simplicity of a simple instruction: Go get it. The manna, that is.
This simple story comes to us from the book of Exodus 16. Frustrated with the lack of food, the people of Israel complained to God. They argued that they had better food under the slavery of Egypt. God answered their request with quail and heaven sent bread known as manna. There was a simple instruction. Every morning the promise was to provide this manna in the field and every morning the people were to go the field and fetch their heart’s desires.
But, the manna would only last for the day.
Why?
God doesn’t do leftovers.
Every day God calls us to a moment in the field of our spiritual lives. A moment of dependence, obedience and discipline. He calls us to this field to receive his manna. What is this manna? It’s a word, a blessing, an anointing or strength. It’s that hard-to-define something that comes from that definite source, our God. And the lesson learned from the people of Israel in Exodus is a simple one. Stay fresh. Daily receive your manna. To live off of yesterday’s manna is to live off of spoils.
It’s sweet, fragrant and new. Dedicate yourself to a life of fresh manna.
