the test of plenty

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” . . . 13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.” Exodus 16:4-15

The account of God supplying manna to the children of Israel is one of Scripture's most beautiful expressions of God's provision. He allowed his children to become hungry in a barren wilderness. They had neither means nor hope of acquiring food on their own. God rained down bread from heaven's kitchen 6 days a week for 40 years. They never had to ask. Surrounded by barrenness, they received plenty.

Tucked away in Exodus 16 is a phrase we must not miss: “That I may test them” (v.4). A constant dose of plenty can sometimes be a more difficult spiritual test than a constant dose of need. We have plenty, but we think we “need” more.

Many wealthy countries are lands of manna. The plenty is a test. What is the purpose of the test of abundance? To “test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.” God is pinpointing an overwhelming tendency in human nature: We are far less likely to be obedient when we are not in need.

Necessity has a way of reordering our priorities, doesn't it? If we belong to Jesus and find ourselves lacking something we think we need, sooner or later we may begin evaluating whether we're living obedient lives that God can bless. Coming face to face with need is a very effective prompter toward obedience.

But what about a daily dose of plenty? I'm not referring to wealth—just the absence of worry as to whether or not our family will eat each week. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, our greatest dilemma is how we'll cook and serve our manna today, not whether we'll have the manna.

Herein lies the test. Must we be in immediate need to live obedient lives?

God is so faithful, so daily. He delights in obedience prompted from something deeply internal—a heart of love and devotion. Ask him today to help you become a child of his whose levels of obedience are less regulated by circumstances and more governed by love. —Beth Moore bethmoore.org

seeking: Father, how has your faithfulness strengthened me this day? How can I show you my worship and thankfulness for what you've done?

responding: In what ways has God tested me with plenty? • Do I have a tendency to be less obedient during times of abundance? Why?

Loving Father, thank you for the abundant provision of manna I receive each day from you. Please forgive me for growing rebellious and disobedient during times of ease. I pray to develop such sincere love and devotion that my obedience will not waver during seasons of famine or abundance. Help me to pass the test of plenty, dear Lord. In the name of Jesus, amen.

following: Times of plenty are a test of our obedience.

our journey