Exodus 16 (Continued)
THE MANNA was strictly a wilderness food for the people of Israel. It did not come until they had left Egypt, and it ceased when they reached Canaan — a period of forty years. How wonderful it was that God should feed His people perhaps two million souls — in the wilderness day after day for those forty long years!
We have seen how the manna speaks to us of Christ. May it be our delight to enjoy more of Christ as we too pass through this wilderness world. The instructions given to Israel in connection with the manna were typically the same as those needed by us today.
The Lord said: “The people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day.” verse 4. To profit by God’s gracious provision required diligence every day. To rest at home in the comforts of their tents would be to forfeit the daily provision and would not provide the needed energy for the day’s march. The comforts of an easy way of life could be a snare to an Israelite and to a Christian as well. The sluggard, in Proverbs 24:3333Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: (Proverbs 24:33), said: “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,” but found to his dismay his laziness brought him to poverty and want. Man for the most part is a sluggard in divine things, and it is sad to see how many children of God today are in spiritual poverty because they fail in faithfully pursuing the things of Christ. The enjoyment of comfort and ease is one of Satan’s wily ways to rob a believer of the nourishment he needs for his Christian path. There never has been a day more than the present when God’s people needed to exercise diligence in reading the Word and in enjoying the portion in Christ.
The manna was to be gathered early in the morning. If an Israelite failed to go out for his daily portion he and his family would have nothing to eat until a new day arrived. Or if he did not rise early and gather in the manna for the day, he would find that it had disappeared before the heat of the sun. How many a failure may be traced back to neglect on this point! A trial comes — unexpectedly, and the soul breaks down. But why? Because the manna was not collected before the sun was hot, before other things crowded in.
Of course, it should not be thought that the morning is the only time to be occupied with the Lord. Indeed, as there is opportunity, we should desire to enjoy the things of Christ all through the day and in the evening too. But the important thing is to see that the day is begun with the gathering of the manna, and what is gathered “early in the morning” can then become the foundation for the whole day. Furthermore, they were not to get more than was necessary for the day, or to hold some in reserve for a later time. It could not be stored for future use. They were told not to leave any until the morning; but some did so and found that it spoiled overnight and was corrupted. No; the food collected today cannot sustain us on the morrow. It is only in the present exercise of soul that we can feed upon Christ. This tells of the need of going to the Lord afresh every morning for His help and encouragement for the rest of the day
ML-10/12/1969