Just Enough

Just Enough
Words of Faith 11-23-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Exodus 16
[10] While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.
[11] The Lord said to Moses, [12] "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.' "
[13] That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. [14] When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. [15] When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them, "It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. [16] This is what the Lord has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' "
[17] The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. [18] And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.
[19] Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."

The Lord provided a most unusual food. The Hebrew word 'manna' means "What is it?" They had never seen anything like this, much less eaten something off the ground in this way.
It was an act of faith simply to gather this substance and then eat it. It is amazing what we will do when we are hungry! But the most challenging lesson learned in the desert was that God will provide just enough. The goal was to understand this. "Then you will know that I am the Lord your God."
It pleased the Lord to provide for his children in the desert. But the lesson here was for the Israelites to learn to trust the Lord and take direction. There was plenty of this manna for everyone. Just enough. Some gathered much, and some little. But when they measured it, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. There was just enough. Just enough.
The main problem in the desert would be the temptation to gather more. This could be the result of greed or fear of not having enough. In either case, it is a mistrust of the Lord and a failure to follow His instructions.
Of course, we have not been instructed to gather a particular amount in our walk through the desert. Every blessing is from the hand of the Lord. Some gather more, and some less. Could it be that the Lord is mistaken in His provision for us today? No, not likely. Though some gather more and some less, one does not have too much or another too little. What we gather is just enough and may even be intended as a provision for another. It is a matter of listening and following directions.
Our problem today is that we often fail to realize that there is a purpose when God has blessed us with much. When we are blessed with more than we need, we have an opportunity to be a blessing, but not of ourselves. We are called to ask the Lord what it is that he has purposed in this abundance.
The Bible teaches that we are regularly supplied more than we need so that we can return a portion to the Lord, save and invest, and share with others. Our temptation is often to consume everything we gather or live beyond our means. The world urges us to reach for and consume more than we need. The wonderful thing about the Lord is how patient He is with us when we are slow to learn these lessons.

Father God, break me free from the way of the world. Help me to see Your glory in the morning and Your hand in every provision of life. Give me eyes to see the purpose You have for every blessing. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.