Once every quarter, I am blessed to invest a couple of hours over lunch with my spiritual mentor. He is a former Workmatters Chairman of the Board and serves on the leadership team of a large consumer food products company. Last week we discussed a very specific Bible story and I was amazed by the practical and powerful life at work lessons that resulted.
Take a moment and read the story of “Manna from Heaven” found in Exodus 16:2-35. It’s a story you may have read or heard numerous times, but this time, after you read it consider these lessons:
God provides Manna just for today
- Verse 4 says: “I will rain down bread from Heaven for you.”
- I have meditated over this idea for days. It’s transformational. Think about it. God provides Manna for you each day, just for today. Open your eyes to the absolutely amazing Manna that God is providing you just for today!
You have to gather it
- God provides, but you have to gather! See verse 4 again: 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.”
- This is powerful because it says God will provide for today, but he expects us to make an effort to get it.
- You must trust God to provide daily Manna, AND you need to be willing to see it and bring it in.
- Do you think this is important? The verb (think action) “gather” is used 11 times in Chapter 16!
God provides, but you don’t know it
- Verse 15 says: 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.
- Every single day, God is providing “bread” for you. But do you see it? Do you slow down long enough to discern what it is?
- When you grasp this, you will be amazed at the food God is raining down from Heaven each day. Give Him all the glory!
Don’t complain
- Read verse 2, and especially verse 8: “You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”
- Remember, God is providing you “bread” each day, so be careful about complaining. When you complain, you are really complaining against God!
- By the way, the verb (again, think action) “grumble” is used 7 times in Chapter 16!
Teach the next generation (always)
- Verse 33 says: Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’ ”
- Regardless of your age, you are called to share the stories and teach wisdom and truth to those coming behind you.
- How are you teaching the next generation at work?
It is amazing to experience how simple stories in the Bible can reveal such practical and powerful lessons for our life at work! May this one change your life!
Closing the gap together,
David
