Then the Manna Ceased

Upon reading my Read Through the Bible passages yesterday, I came across the following verses in Joshua: "And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year." Joshua 5:11-12. The Israelites have just entered the promised land, and, after 40 years of manna sent to feed them in the desert, they are finally able to eat the produce of the land.

It gave me reason to pause and think of the times God has given me "manna" in my times of difficulties. Am I always aware of the fact God is sending His provision, and do I remember to be thankful for it when I am not in a trial and the manna is stopped? God can send help in such forms as financial gifts and donations, ministries that encourage us and teach us, neighbors who give us company or babysitting when we are in need or are lonely, teachers who push us and discover or identify a gift we possess, a job that gets us through a period of time or leads to the next part of our calling, friends who admonish and encourage us in times of blessing and hardship, scripture that speaks directly to a trial we are facing and becomes a rock upon which we must stand each and every day, and/or service opportunities that teach us about giving glory to God in all circumstances. When a certain blessing and opportunity comes your way, do you acknowledge it as God's provision for you?

I fully surrendered my life to Christ my last year in college, right after graduation. I was already slated to attend UCLA's graduation program for education--a liberal environment, with few safety nets for a new, vulnerable Christian. However, God sent me manna in grad school. "Miraculously," all the Christians in the program were bold, active and loving followers of Christ. In addition, they all ended up being put on my particular school team. Over those two years, I was fed Bible studies, scripture and biblical perspective in the desert of the worldly ideas around me. I was given more Christian friends and opportunity for Bible study than I had ever had in all my years of growing up in the church. Then the manna ceased when I graduated, but I was able to eat the fruit of new Christian friends down in Orange County and nourish myself on the truths I received in the church I began attending near home.

I know we can all think of instances when God has sent manna to sustain us in short or long-term trials. Whether it was an ear to listen, a friend to encourage us, or a leader to admonish us, we were receiving tangible help from our Creator. It is important that we don't take blessings for granted or forget to acknowledge that all good things come from God. James 1:17 tells us that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." If you have a benefit in your life, an encourager or a temporary piece of manna to feed you, recognize it is from God.

We must first acknowledge from where we receive provision, but then we must respond in thanks. So often, life moves forward or returns to "normal", the provision is not needed,is removed, and we forget. We forget about God's goodness. We forget we can trust Him. We forget He is faithful. We forget to be thankful. In Luke 17: 11-19, Christ heals ten lepers. Only one leper returns to thank God and glorify Him. In verse 17-19, Jesus says, "'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?' And He said to him, 'Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.'" Are we giving God the glory? Do we recall His gifts and profess His goodness to others? Do we use our stories of manna in the desert to encourage others?

Take time today to count your blessings and recognize the manna God is sending you in such forms as people, worldly needs, and scriptural food. The Israelites placed manna in the Ark of the Covenant so they would never forget God's provision to them in the desert. (Hebrews 9:4) If you find yourself moving forward and not needing or receiving a certain provision, give thanks to God for the times He has ministered to you with His help. Remember He loves you and is your comforter in times of difficulty. Though the specific type of "manna" may come and go, may our hearts continuously glorify God despite our circumstances and remember He is God . . . in the desert and in the land of plenty.