Remember The Manna - April 15

Read 2 Corinthians 8:11-15

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Reflect

Think back on your life. Have you ever been in a position of reliance on others to meet your basic needs? What about the reverse? Have you ever been in a position to provide for others?

I studied the book of Exodus in depth in a Bible study group a couple of years ago. When we reached Exodus 16, the chapter about God raining down manna from heaven, I felt convicted with my struggle to depend on God to meet my daily needs.

God had just brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and they had witnessed with their own eyes God’s amazing power on display. God had punished Egypt with the 10 plagues and He parted the waters of the Red Sea so that they could walk across on dry land. But as they continued on their journey in the wilderness, they started to grumble against God because they were getting hungry.

In Exodus 16:4, God responded to their complaining: “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.” God was going to provide for them. But He was only going to give them enough for one day at a time.

When morning came, sure enough, manna covered the ground like frost. They were commanded to gather as much as they could eat but they were not allowed to hoard it. They couldn’t keep any of it over until the next day. Exodus 16:17-18 records: “And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.”

Unfortunately, some of the Israelites must have shared my struggle with depending on God for their daily needs to be met and they stashed some of the manna away. But by the next morning, it was rotten and buggy. They hadn’t fully trusted the Lord. They had tried to hoard their resources but it was futile.

In today’s passage, Paul quoted Exodus 16:18 as he continued to encourage the Corinthian church to give generously to his special offering for the Christians in Judea. He said the attitude of their hearts matters more than the amount that they give. Everyone should give only out of the amount that they have. Some will give more and some will give less. The Corinthians didn’t need to give themselves into poverty in order to lift the Judeans out of it.

In fact, Paul never commanded that everyone give a certain amount. Giving was completely voluntary and the amount was dependent on what they had been given by God. Those who had a lot should give more and those who only had a little should only give a little. If everyone contributed according to the resources they’d been blessed with, they would be able to be a blessing to their fellow believers who were struggling. It’s only fair that believers with a lot should help their brothers and sisters in Christ with little.

It makes sense and yet, aren’t we often tempted to hoard what we have? We feel like we need to hold on to it in case we find ourselves in a similar position. But, remember the manna. God provided for their daily needs. Whether they had a lot or they had a little, it was always enough.

Respond

Lord, I confess that it isn’t always easy to share the blessings that You have given me because I worry about the future. Please forgive my lack of trust. Help me to depend on You everyday for my own needs and to share whatever I can to help meet the needs of others. Amen.

Reveal

Remember the manna as you go throughout your day today. Sharing freely as you are able reveals your dependence and trust in the Lord to provide for you.