The Widow’s Manna

Exodus 16;4,12  “Behold I am about to rain Manna from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion each day…  I have heard the people… in the morning you will be filled with Manna.  Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

And in contrast…

Luke 22:19-20 ESV  And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body (manna), which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [20] And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

This manna of the Old Testament was God’s provision for the daily basics sustenance; for the temporal and immediate needs and day-to-day survival. To show them He was the Lord their God. There was still physical death though the need was met.  But the New Testament manna was a sacrifice for your ultimate provision.  Beyond the physical needs it supplied our spiritual needs… eternal life and death to physical hinderance and sin’s punishment.

Provision for one day at a time.  That provision is the love, strength, determination and power to take one step at a time in faith.  This Old Testament “Manna” for the day, is spoiled when we try to take in more than we need for that day.  But we trust that the Lord’s provision (New Testament Manna) is enough to fill us and strengthen us for the days steps in the journey.  We can have as much as wee need.

In all the world there is not a journey like it.  A  journey the creates abyss-like depth and character in proportions beyond imagination, and at the same time, tearing at and pulling the very fabric of all you think you are or will be.  The road on this journey is flooded with the puddles of a thousand tears and holds a broken heart, yet those tears cause it to blossom with the flowers of discovery and unexplainable, supernatural strength.  I won’t lie, this journey requires the valor and courage of a warrior, as well as, a willingness to crawling into the tender arms of our Heavenly Father with the fragile characteristics of a child.  This journey is one step at a time, when you feel you should be hiking miles each day.  This journey is falling to your knees, when you feel you should be running a marathon.  It stretches, it pushes, it hurts and it breaks; but it also envelopes in goodness, defines your courage, showers with grace and pours out peace beyond any human understanding.  This is the journey of a widow who still sees through the eyes of a wife.  As a new widow, I see the beauty of having those around me who have walked where I now tread.  It is comforting and lifts my very soul to know I am not alone or going crazy in my varied emotions.  With the blessing of these wonderful gifts of friends, others who have been here on this road before, it occurred to me that the beauty of encouragement was also mine to give as well.  So, here I pray in each word I may also be used to share the load and bless as I have been so richly blessed.

Psalm 27:13

“I believe I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living,” may I add, one moment, one hour, one day at a time.