Today’s manna is wholesome, and good to eat. The Israelites were told to collect as much as they wanted. But those who collected little found they were as satisfied as those who gorged on it.
There could be another spiritual lesson here. Are we measuring ourselves by others? Do we secretly envy and hanker after the life-style of those who seem to be great men of faith? This is a valueless pursuit. The parable of the talents shows us that the man who had two and gained two received the same commendation from the Lord as the man who had four and gained four. Faithfulness in what we have is all that is required.
Comparing ourselves with others is disastrous. If the Lord rewards on the basis of mental excellence, oracular ability, or physical prowess, then we poor folk have no chance in His sight. No, thankfully this is not His way with us. The least receives the same welcome and blessing as the greatest. Remember the widow’s mite.
Are we walking by faith, listening to the “still small voice” that follows all the world’s noise? Are we listening in to the Lord in our prayer times, and not just regaling Him with a lengthy list of our needs and those of our friends? Remember Solomon’s advice in Eccles. 5:1-2 “God is in heaven; you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.” It is so important to cultivate a “listening ear”. God speaks to us in so many and variedways, and we must learn to experience these in practice.
I need to ask myself, what did the Lord ask of me today? Did I carry it out? Or did I just let the day drift by without listening? Have I collected my manna today before the sun rose and burned it off?
