Moses gave these instructions concerning the manna God provided for the people in response to their cry for food:
Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’” So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it (Exodus 16:19-24).
It was like the Lord controlled a provision faucet that He would turn it on and shower the people with the exact amount needed for each day. There was even a double portion on the Sabbath eve so the people would not have to gather on the Sabbath, but they were to consume everything they gathered on every other day as they received it. If they tried to hoard or save some of what they had, it would smell and maggots would infest and eat it.
There are a few purpose and creativity lessons in this story for us. One is that the Lord will provide what you need for each day—no more and no less. You are to use and enjoy it that day and trust the Lord for what you need tomorrow. There is to be no hoarding for fear that God will not "come through" tomorrow. Jesus taught us to pray with that expectation through the phrase in the Lord's Prayer "give us this day our daily bread." The same is true for your creativity and purposeful good deeds. You are to fulfill them today and not worry about whether God will give you more ideas, customers, or opportunities tomorrow. Do it, create it, teach it, say it, and give it today.
The second lesson is that if you don't use what God gives you, then something will happen to it. It will be useless and instead of being a fragrant aroma before the Lord, the stench of your inactivity or doubt will ascend to Him. When the people did not consume the gathered manna, the maggots were only too glad to eat it. Have you ever had an idea and then see someone make that idea a reality? What you didn't follow through on turned sour for you while someone else found a way to do it. The third and final lesson is that when you have a testimony today, you must find a way to share it. Don't store it for future use or put off until tomorrow what you should do or give today. Don't let the fresh bread God gives you become stale.
Are you living and giving today, trusting the Lord for what you use or give away to be replenished tomorrow? Are you freely using your ideas today, knowing full well that there are plenty more where they came from in the Lord? Are maggots consuming your lunch or are you eating it, enjoying to the fullest what God has for you with confidence He will give you your daily bread as you need it?
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