Manna
For the past three weeks, I had the privilege of speaking at a camp in Toccoa Falls, GA. Living on college cafeteria food, my diet consisted of an endless rotation of pizza, fries, and the occasional salad. It felt a bit like the modern-day equivalent of manna from Heaven—though perhaps not quite as miraculous! My experience there reminded me of a profound truth found in Deuteronomy 8:3.
"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." Deuteronomy 8:3
This verse takes us back to the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, where God provided manna to sustain them. But it wasn’t just about physical sustenance. God used this miraculous food to teach the Israelites—and us—an essential lesson: our true sustenance comes from His word.
During my time at camp, I often reflected on how the Israelites must have felt receiving manna daily. While I joke about my cafeteria meals being my “manna,” I began to see the deeper parallel. Just as I couldn't rely solely on cafeteria food for my well-being, we cannot rely solely on physical nourishment for our spiritual health. We need God’s Word to truly live.
One evening, after a particularly long day of teaching, activities, and hanging out with teenagers, I found myself craving something more than the standard cafeteria fare. After a quick Google search, I realized my options were limited in the great town of Toccoa, so a buddy and I headed to get some hot eats and cool treats from Dairy Queen. Yes, if you didn’t know this already, Dairy Queen sells hot food and to be honest, the burgers aren’t too bad. This venture to fill my stomach ultimately made me realize that my physical hunger mirrored a deeper spiritual hunger.
The next morning, I found myself back in Deuteronomy 8:3. I was struck anew by the realization that just as God provided for the Israelites in the desert, He provides for us through His word. Our physical needs are important, but our spiritual needs are paramount. Without regular nourishment from God’s word, our souls starve. The more we consume Scripture, the more renewal and spiritual energy we will find.
In our busy lives, it's easy to focus on meeting physical needs, but our greatest sustenance is always spiritual in nature. God calls us to seek Him first, to rely on His word for true sustenance. Just as He provided manna in the wilderness, He provides His word to nourish our souls today.
So, whether you're in the midst of a hectic schedule or enjoying a moment of calm, remember to feed on God’s word. It's the nourishment that sustains us through every season of life.
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