He Is What We Need

So the people of Israel went out and gathered this food, some getting more, and some getting less. By gathering two quarts for each person, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.

After the nation of Israel had crossed the Red Sea into the wilderness they didn't have the same conveniences they were used to. They were confronted with the fact that they would not have all their physical needs met as they had in Egypt. In Egypt they had everything in the way of food and housing, they had no freedom. According to many of the Hebrews, food in the land of slavery was not an issue. Still, the king wanted to control how many sons you had, how much you worked and what you did for work, along with other worse things. It seemed that some saw the kings rules as a small sacrifice for eating onions and cucumbers.

The mind creates false memories of our past when we feel deprived of something we’re used to. I remember living in a foreign country and at times wondering if I would be better off at home with all of its comforts and conveniences. Israel’s dilemma was that the source for their sustenance had changed from the natural to the supernatural, and they refused to adjust to faith even though they had seen so many wonders that God did through Moses.

“It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks” they say, but Israel was no old dog. It was a new people with hope and a God who desired that they learn to rely on Him for their needs rather than crave the things of the past.

This transition from old to new can be hard for Christians. We come into this life with joy, being torn from the slavery that held us in chains to sin. And after the initial excitement is over we may ask, “What do I do now?” Often people do what Israel did when hard times come. Forgetting the pain of sin they look back, longing for things in their old life.  Paul says this, "but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead."

What we have to do is to be careful not to be led away with the error of the wicked, as were the children of Israel when they complained constantly to Moses about their situation. They looked back and said the slavery that they were freed from was better than their new lives. They refused to do what we must do, which is to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. That's when we begin to realize that when we find ourselves in a place of need we ask for God’s help.

Moses told Israel to go out of the camp in the morning and find food on top of the dew on the ground and to gather what was needed for yourself and your family. Later, those who gathered much had none left over, and those who gathered little had plenty.

That is how our heavenly Father takes care of us. The Bible says, My God shall supply all your need according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.”

Are you ready to trust Him in this new life of liberty? Don’t seek fulfillment the way you used to before you were made free men and women by the new birth. Going back to Egypt for a taste of the good life is a fool's errand. Stop fooling yourself, the onions and cucumbers were never that good! Look what your old life cost you. Remember the pain? Remember the resentment and anger and emptiness? Real contentment must come through trusting in God’s promise to lead us and feed us. "Be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you, I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5

 Indeed, He is what we need.