Exodus 16:13-21 – “So it came about at evening that the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground. 15 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, ” What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, ” It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. 16 “This is what the LORD has commanded, ‘Gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.'” 17 The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. 18 When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat. 19 Moses said to them, ” Let no man leave any of it until morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them. 21 They gathered it morning by morning, every man as much as he should eat; but when the sun grew hot, it would melt.”  NASB

It is incredible to me that the children of Israel, having been eyewitnesses to the Miracle Working Power of God in their deliverance, would quickly revert to placing their confidence in the flesh.  That is not unique to them; it is a condition that has been a problem for mankind since the Garden of Eden. 

Paul addressed the Galatians and questioned how soon they had turned back from what they had received to trusting the flesh.  Mankind tends to trust what we can see rather than the unseen, even though it is God’s Promise.  It is almost like, “What have you done for me lately?” 

Here, Israel complained about having food, and God provided for them supernaturally.  In the manna, He not only provided food, but God also created a situation that would Test the Obedience of the people.  

This food was unique in that if someone gathered much, there was no excess; if they gathered little, there was no lack.  The directive was that nothing be left until the morning or the next day.  Simply, you could not horde up a supply for future days.  I see several reasons for that.  The fact that it could not be carried over until the next day was to ensure their continued dependence on God and His supply.  Another is that it required explicit obedience.  It required them to get out early, before the day’s heat, and gather what they needed for that day.  It required dependence, obedience, and diligence.

God is our true source!  That does not mean we do not walk out or live what we are praying for and depend on God.  We depend on Him for the anointing to carry out the objective.  We are dependent on God for His supply of our needs.  God is the source, but if we sit idle in slothfulness and laziness, He will not provide.  We reap what we sow. We do not reap blessings if we Do Not Sow.  Dependence is a necessary ingredient in our pursuit of His purposes and promises.

We must also be obedient, for without obedience, we find ourselves in rebellion, which moves us outside God’s protective hand.  Obedience is better than sacrifice.  Obedience opens the door to God’s incredible blessings.  Obedience leads us on the path of righteousness. 

Disobedience separates us from God and blocks His supply flow, anointing, and robs from the Body of Christ and the Kingdom of God.  We must also be diligent and actively pursue the Purposes of God in Dependence and Obedience.  As we pass the test of Obedience, we move from Glory to Glory and Victory to Victory. 

God, bless you richly as you enjoy this wonderful day in Jesus!