Manna: What Does It Represent?

Last week on the blog, we talked about what manna was. (If you missed it, you can find the post here.) This week I want to share with you what the Lord has been teaching me about what manna represents in our lives.

Deuteronomy 8:3

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.

Manna is a beautiful picture of God’s Word in our daily lives. More than we need physical food, we need God’s Word in our lives every day to sustain us. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He actually quoted from this passage of Scripture.

Matthew 4:4

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

If Jesus, being God, needed the Word of God to sustain Him, how much more do we need it? I want to share with you three parallels between manna and the Word of God in our lives. I pray that this picture will help you find satisfaction in the Word of God the way it has helped me.

IT’S THERE FOR THE GATHERING

When the children of Israel were given manna for the first time in answer to their prayers, Moses instructed them on what to do with it.

Exodus 16:16

This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.

The manna was there for the taking, but it wouldn’t do the Israelites any good if they didn’t take it! God’s Word is exactly the same. It’s there to nourish our souls, but if we don’t get up every day and actually read it, it won’t do us any good.

IT’S JUST ENOUGH FOR EACH DAY

Exodus 16:17-18

And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

It doesn’t matter how much or how little we read of God’s Word every day; it will always be enough. On the days when we can sit and read chapters at a time, it will be enough. But on the days when we barely find time to read a few verses, it will still be enough. God’s Word is always enough.

WE CAN’T WORK AHEAD OR MAKE UP DAYS

Exodus 16:19-20

And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

I love working ahead. In fact, I’m working ahead right now. This blog post won’t be published for nine more days, but I’m getting it ready now because I’ll be traveling before it’s published. But our quiet time doesn’t work like that. I can’t store up nine days worth of quiet time now so that I’m free to do other things later. I also can’t somehow make up for a missed day by reading extra the next day. God’s Word will always be exactly enough for the day that I’m in right now, no more and no less. It will always be exactly what I need.

I pray that these words will encourage you to gather the sustaining bread of God’s Word every day. He has so many wonderful things in store for you! I’ll be continuing this series on manna next Friday. If you don’t want to miss it, make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter by leaving your name and email address below. I’ll send a new devotional to your inbox every week, as well as a link to my latest blog post so you never miss a thing.