Bread Crumbs

Last message I mentioned that there were two points I wanted to cover from the passage Exodus 16.  Point number one was REMEMBERING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS and all the good God does daily for us! To keep our eyes on HIM and not the wilderness at hand.

Now, let’s remember that the Israelites had been on their journey from Egypt for one month.  Rescued by the hand of the Lord with mighty miracles!  The Lord has recorded this journey to instruct us that we might learn!! So let’s learn from this.

This second point, though there are many (I will resist from rabbit trails), is ABSOLUTELY necessary in our daily walk with God!

Let me back track just a moment and give us the lay out. Exodus 14 is the escape and deliverance through the Red Sea. They have witnessed one of the mightiest miracles of a life time along with MANY other miracles through this exodus. They come out alive, together, and with a promise!  And yet, the complaining had begun. Three days into their journey where they met bitter water they couldn’t drink, they complained as if God would not completely and thoroughly finish what HE started.  They complained to Moses about God. But then God enters the scene and gives them sweet water to drink. The Bible tells us in verse 25, “It was there at Marah (Marah means bitter -here’s where I resist the rabbit trail) that the Lord set before them the following decree AS A STANDARD TO TEST THEIR FAITHFULNESS TO HIM.” Remember this part.

Chapter 16 begins their journey into the Wilderness of Sin. Yes, that is the name of the Wilderness which lies between Elim and Mount Sinai. Kind of fitting isn’t it (wilderness of sin)? At this point I’m sure the Israelites had all kinds of thoughts running through their minds, “Why are we here?”, “This doesn’t look much like the promised land to me!”, “I don’t see anything promising about this at all!”.  Ever been there before? Maybe your there now? The place in the wilderness where you are wondering where you are, where God is in all of this, and what am I suppose to do now?

THIS IS KEY…..NOW IS THE TIME to remember how faithful your God is, how remarkably on time He always is (not your time table – another rabbit trail opportunity …. resisting), and how He always finishes what He starts!! What if you just decided to give up and trust HIM? What if you decided ” alright, alright…. I will stand (and trust) and see that the Lord is good”!!

Here’s a golden nugget for us while facing our wilderness places and how to pass the test of realizing the faithfulness of God. In Exodus 16:4, “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food (manna) from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food (manna) as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not that they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.”

Each day the Lord provided fresh provision from heaven!!  He wanted them to learn to follow and trust HIM and only HIM! He is sitting…waiting….to give us FRESH, LIVE, SPIRITUAL NUTRITION every day. The bible goes on to tell us that those who didn’t trust Him gathered up more than they needed (ya know, just in case God didn’t come through) and the manna they stored up became infested with worms and began to stink! Understand the lesson here….God wants to provide and lead us DAILY! He wants to give us fresh words from heaven concerning our lives, our calls, our families, everything He has for us!! The test is….. will you, will I, trust HIM AND HIS FAITHFULNESS TOWARD US…daily?

I have always told my kids that God is so good at leaving a bread crumb trail for us to follow….a manna trail if you will. He is not trying to see if we can navigate and figure things out….He’s not that kind of Father! He wants to lead and He wants us to follow so we don’t get lost!!!  Don’t rest on yesterday’s manna, it will wind up stinking. Every day seek God’s provision of fresh manna (bread) and follow your bread crumb trail. There’s a destiny waiting for you!!

Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread….”