“And the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.” —Exodus 16:15, KJV
“And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” —Exodus 16:31, KJV
I imagine that in heaven, God might say, “It’s morning on earth; I should open the windows because Andy will be calling for me any minute.” How wonderful would it be if we were so close to God that He expected to hear from us at the same time each morning, ready to bless us?
During the time described in Exodus, the Israelites relied on manna provided by God. Each morning, they went outside to collect this extraordinary heavenly food for their families.
Embracing Daily Blessings Through God's Faithfulness
Think about it—you could step outside each day to receive God’s blessings and provisions. As Jeremiah writes in Lamentations 3:22-23, “It is by the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions do not fail. (23) They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Every day, the Israelites found God’s blessings waiting for them. They never doubted His provision because He is faithful.
This blessing was available every morning, except on the Sabbath. On that day, they were instructed to gather twice as much the day before, prepare it, and then refrain from gathering or cooking on the Sabbath. If they tried to keep it overnight on any other day, it would spoil by morning. Isn’t it comforting to know that God provides us fresh bread from heaven each day? We don’t have to live on leftovers. As Psalm 68:19 states, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of salvation. Selah.”
Embracing New Blessings: Moving Beyond The Past
However, this raises an important question: Why do we sometimes live in the past? When we reflect on God’s blessings, we often speak of what He has done in the past. I admit I am guilty of this; while those memories are cherished, they remain just that—memories. According to God's word, we need not dwell on the past. Instead, we can receive His blessings anew and fresh every morning, simply by asking for them. We don’t have to gather them like the Israelites did; we can pray and open our hearts to receive them.
Malachi 3:10 speaks about tithing, stating that the Lord will “open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Notice that He will open “you” the windows of heaven. This means you can receive God’s blessings regardless of whether others choose to.
Ephesians 3:20 asserts, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” I have a vivid imagination, and God can do far beyond what I can envision or request. James 4:2 reminds us, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” God desires to open the windows of heaven and pour—not sprinkle but pour—blessings on His children. Imagine how our lives could change if we woke up every morning searching for God's blessings!
The Unique Redemption of Humanity Through Christ
Jesus came to redeem fallen humanity, not animals or anything else. As Paul reiterates in 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23, we “are bought with a price,” and in Ephesians 1:14, we are referred to as a “purchased possession.” This emphasizes our personal relationship with the Lord. James emphasized that “YE have not because YE ask not,” targeting everyone directly, not a group.
Like the Israelites, God wants to provide us with fresh bread from heaven every day if we seek it. The window is open, and He is waiting to hear from you. He offers you “Just enough for today,” but more will be there tomorrow.
Prayer: Dear Lord, Please help me have a grateful heart for all you provide me each day. Show me how to take advantage of the blessings available to me so that I can be a blessing to others. Amen.
Your turn: In what ways can we cultivate a grateful heart to recognize and appreciate our blessings? How can we share the blessings we receive with others in our community?
Great post!