While in India, we were served meals in the villages we visited on a daily basis. One of my favorite substitutes for rice was something called a Chapotti. A Chapottie is a warm tortilla, sometimes made with whole wheat flour. Many nights, Chapotti were brought out stacked high on a platter. Usually the host would insist on us eating at least three a person, along with the generous servings of rice and meat. One night, I had what I considered to be a brilliant idea. I decided I would take home the extra Chapottis for us to eat for breakfast the following morning. After all, the host made the Chapotti for us.
One morning during my quiet time, I sensed the Lord speaking to me. I was reminded of the passage in Exodus 16. The Israelites had escaped the oppression from Pharoah in Egypt. They were in the desert, on their way to the Promised Land, and they were hungry. So they grumbled.
Yaweh provided for them. God promised to rain down bread from heaven each day. He told the people to go out each day and gather enough for that day. Moses gave them even more specific instructions, “Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person in your tent.”
The Israelites obeyed, at first. Some gathered little, some gathered much. Each one gathered as much as he needed.
Moses told them, “DO NOT KEEP IT UNTIL MORNING.” Some people still kept the manna. If they kept it overnight, it got filled with maggots (with the exception of gathering manna for the Sabbath day).
The Lord was testing the people to see if they trusted Him to provide their daily needs. I too, need to trust that He will provide for me. Day in and day out. I do not need to hoard food. I need to gather only what I need for each day, trusting that He will sustain me each day, both physically and spiritually.
When Jesus teaches His disciples to pray in Matthew 6, He says to ask the Father for our daily bread. I am learning to trust that God will give me the exact amount of energy, love, nourishment, rest, patience, and endurance I need for today. He is my portion. He is enough.
One morning during my quiet time, I sensed the Lord speaking to me. I was reminded of the passage in Exodus 16. The Israelites had escaped the oppression from Pharoah in Egypt. They were in the desert, on their way to the Promised Land, and they were hungry. So they grumbled.
Yaweh provided for them. God promised to rain down bread from heaven each day. He told the people to go out each day and gather enough for that day. Moses gave them even more specific instructions, “Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person in your tent.”
The Israelites obeyed, at first. Some gathered little, some gathered much. Each one gathered as much as he needed.
Moses told them, “DO NOT KEEP IT UNTIL MORNING.” Some people still kept the manna. If they kept it overnight, it got filled with maggots (with the exception of gathering manna for the Sabbath day).
The Lord was testing the people to see if they trusted Him to provide their daily needs. I too, need to trust that He will provide for me. Day in and day out. I do not need to hoard food. I need to gather only what I need for each day, trusting that He will sustain me each day, both physically and spiritually.
When Jesus teaches His disciples to pray in Matthew 6, He says to ask the Father for our daily bread. I am learning to trust that God will give me the exact amount of energy, love, nourishment, rest, patience, and endurance I need for today. He is my portion. He is enough.
This was breakfast one morning in India: Communion bread, grapes, mangoes, bananas, pomegranate, and coffee. Yum!
