Exodus 16:4a,b: Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather every day..."
I recently heard these words, and then ministered to someone dear whom I know: "Just because your 'promised land' is not in sight yet, does not mean your 'promised land' never existed!" I believe this is also an assurance for you who are reading this. What is your 'promised land'? It may be a prophecy (that 'you know that you know' is from the Lord), a dream, or a vision that has yet to come to pass.
I then said this to that someone: "Take one day at a time first. Don't worry about your tomorrows. Enjoy your daily manna first, and keep walking."
You may have been asking this same question too: "Will I ever see the fulfillment of that prophecy/dream/vision in my life?" Beloved, never make the same mistakes that Moses' people made! Just because they didn't see any 'promised land' in sight yet, they began to doubt, murmur and complain (Exodus 16:2), when the fact and the truth was 'their promised land has already existed!"
"So, pastor, what should I do now while waiting?"
Exodus 16 brings us to this situation when Moses' people were in the 'wilderness', already out of their Egypt ('picture' of past bondage/hurts), but yet to see their 'promised land'. That was when the Lord spoke to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day..." (Exodus 16:4). The Lord has promised to provide daily for the people, and then on the sixth day, the providence would be twice the normal amount (Exodus 16:5), so the people could rest from 'collecting' manna on the seventh day. Notice God was the One giving them their rest (Sabbath) on the seventh day (Exodus 16:26-30). The number '7' in Hebrew is a number for 'rest, completed work'. For example, God completed His creation work on the seventh day (see Genesis 2:1-2).
So, apart from taking one day at a time and not worry about your 'tomorrows' (Matthew 6:33-34), God has also given you rest on the seventh day, i.e. Sabbath (Exodus 16:29). Will you receive His rest? The secret to 'run and keep on running' (towards your 'promised land') without losing 'steam' is to take a day to rest (to receive refreshing from the Lord) every week. Put aside every form of 'busy-ness', and rest in Him & drink from Him. He is your 'spiritual R&R'. This is God's 'blueprint' for you. You'll then be refreshed and renewed for the week ahead!
And as you enjoy your 'daily manna' (i.e. receiving all the 'daily fresh' goodness of God in your every day life), know that His everyday blessing for you 'contains no worms in it and will not stink'! (Exodus 16:19-20) You know what? It's fresh! It's good! And it's new! The Bible says 'His mercy is new every morning', and no wonder the psalmist sang, 'This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it' (Psalm 118:24). Note that today's 'manna' is NOT for your tomorrow, lest it 'breeds worms and stinks'! (Exodus 16:19-20) Today's blessing is for you to enjoy and cherish today! The blessing can be good health, ideas, favor, wisdom, open doors, and the list goes on. (Note: having said all these, I'm not saying you don't plan for your tomorrows; but I'm saying you don't worry about your tomorrows)
So, people of God, in times when you haven't seen the manifestation of your 'promised land' yet, take heart. It doesn't mean God has forgotten you. In fact, He will never leave you nor forsake you. Complain not. Doubt not. Murmur not. Keep looking to Him. Let's learn from Moses' time. May you be the 'Joshuas' and the 'Calebs' of this end-time! Amen.
