Exodus 16:2-4

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not.’” vs 4

According to the Hebrew scriptures the miraculous provision of bread in the wilderness was a test for the people. The Lord would provide the manna but each day the Israelites were only to gather enough for that day. As they soon found out, when they took too much manna it would spoil and they would get nothing at all.

As we read this story in our context we can’t help but wonder if that test is still in effect. God continues to make gracious provision for all the needs of our lives, only now we get much more than manna. And like the Israelites we are tempted to take much more than we could possibly need. A few people end up hoarding the vast majority of the Lord’s gifts while others go without. Is it possible that our obsession with material excess causes even God’s good gifts to undermine our serenity? In the prayer Jesus taught his disciple he is careful to say, “Give us today our daily bread.” His words were carefully chosen and reflect the teachings of Exodus. Enough is enough and when we take more than our share, it isn’t only the deprived who suffer. Our greed is a cancer for our souls.

Thought for the Day: How much stuff is enough?