Deuteronomy 8:3 “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone but man lives by every word that proceeds from mouth of the Lord.”
The journey from Egypt to the Promised Land was one of God demonstrating His ability to provide for the Israelites. In securing their release He had shown His power. Now He was showing them His ability to provide everything they needed. To grow them in dependence on Him He would allow them to be hungry and then provide daily manna from heaven, As He provided for them physically He surely would provide for them spiritually.
Growing in dependence on God is difficult. We struggle with it and even resist it. As humans, we are for the most part driven to be independent. Shortly after learning to speak, we begin to say “I can do it myself.” That mindset continues throughout teen years right into adulthood. Men, especially, don’t like asking for help. Being dependent rubs us the wrong way. Yet we are more than physical beings as we are also spiritual beings and our God wants us to be dependent on Him. Spiritual maturity is seen in the person who continually relies on God – trust God – holds on to God – confesses that they need Him more and more!
Opposite of the physical where maturity is seen in one becoming independent a spiritually mature person grows in dependence. Sometimes to help us grow God will humble us through various trials. The wilderness journey was a tool for God to teach His people that He is what they need. Daily they were to rely on Him for their physical bread to teach them to rely on Him for spiritual nourishment.
Daily we are to rely on Him for the nourishment of our soul.
Are you growing in dependence – depending more on God? Does your prayer time include a “Lord, I can’t” statement? Does it include many “Lord, I need you” statements? I hope so because they are the marks of spiritual maturity!!
One of the great lessons of life to learn is that we are not just a physical person for we are also a spiritual person – and the spiritual person must be fed. God’s Word is soul food!! Feed your soul today!
Continue Strong by being more dependent on God,
And remember to DATE the Word