Purple Manna

Exodus 16:4-5 
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day, they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” 

      Walking through the yard one morning, I stopped to watch one of my frequent hummingbird visitors eating nectar from a ruellia plant. The little bird had to be diligent in collecting nectar, as all blooms would fall off by the end of the day. I was thinking how these blooms are a lot like the manna God provided for the Israelites. The ruellia is bursting with purple blooms each morning, but by the end of the day all blooms have fallen off. No worries though, as God will provide more in the morning!    

     This serves as a reminder that just as God has provided for the daily needs of the Israelites and hummingbirds, so too will He provide for ours. But there is work involved to receive His provisions. And yes, many times there will be grumbling and complaining as we don’t always like what we’re called to do or the challenges we must face in preparation for what God has planned for our lives. Have you ever looked back to notice the lessons learned, information gained, or connections made during a trying time in your life? That was no accident. God can always bring something good out of the bad, using it as preparation for His plan. No matter how lost we become, or how many detours we take, we’ll always be given something from the experience that will help us to grow and give us the courage we need to keep moving forward, even when we slip up again. Pick yourself up and start moving forward. His plans are good and he will give you what’s needed to be prosperous in the plans laid out for you.      

There have been many times in my own life when God has provided exactly what was needed at just the right time. Not my time, but His. To be sure, there were times when it was a rough journey getting to that place. Looking back at the skills or information learned from a variety of random situations along the way, I’m amazed at God’s guidance. And the connections! People from such

varied backgrounds that I would not have otherwise crossed their path had God not put them in my life. I’m only beginning to see now how everything has worked together to prepare me for where I am. We need to learn to be patient and attentive as we wander through the wilderness of life; there are lessons along the path to learn before advancing. As we gather the manna of instruction and guidance provided for today, we should trust the journey God is leading us on and follow His instructions.