Last November I turned 40 and I had a chance to reflect on the life I’d lived, my family and my career.
I was so thankful that through all of the years God had always provided for me and my family.
Then I remembered a goal I had made nearly 15 years ago: To retire at the age of 40.
Initially, I pondered if I had failed in some way but then I was convicted by the Holy Spirit.
This goal, while ambitious, wasn’t rooted in God’s provision but my own desire to provide for myself.
In Exodus 16:4,13-20, even though the Lord provided instructions on how to gather the manna (bread from heaven) that would sustain them, some Israelites still thought they had a better plan.
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.
That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 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. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’”
The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.
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.
Where there is obedience to God, there is always His provision.
Prayer: Lord, I repent for thinking my plan was better than Yours. You’ve always met my needs even when I was seeking my own self glorification. Thank You for Your mercy. I need it daily.
Action: This week pray and filter your current goals through the Holy Spirit. Whose provision do they require?
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is the founder of Break Bread, Break Chains and is the co-host of the following podcasts: Defund The Church, Relative Currency, Politically Entertaining, and Christ over Crypto. He is also the founder and creator of the op-ed site Fake News Syndicate.