In Exodus 16, the Israelites were nursing frustrations against the Lord concerning his provision of their need. In expressing their frustration, they did what most of us do in these situations; they grumbled. What do you do when it seems like your need has been ignored by God? What do you do when you don't sense God? All through the Bible you will notice that God works with a timeline in mind. The timeline of God concerning the meeting of our needs is “Today”.
Like the Israelites, you may nurse disappointment with how God has dealt with your need. God has a response for you.
Exodus 16:4
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.His response is “enough for the day...” Everything God gives us is enough for the day.
He told the Israelites I have heard you… I will supply what you ask but I supply only “enough for that day.” The Lords provisions for you are “enough for the day”. He gives you grace enough for the day, favor enough for the day, strength enough for the day, provision enough for the day and mercy enough for the day.
If you don’t feel like you have enough for the day; consider this:
1. A need in your past?
The reason your frustration may be getting deeper and your burden heavier is because you are seeking God about the past. Apart from the day when it happened; there has been no provision of mercy or grace for whatever happened in your past.
Exodus 16:16
This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer[a] for each person you have in your tent.’”
You were to partake as much as you needed at that time--- enough.
Look at Vs. 20; 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.
You are getting worse because your situation is rotten. You have held onto it longer than you were meant to, there is no provision for it today. You have to let it go otherwise it’s going to spoil the whole batch. You blame God but it’s not his fault. You have chosen to disobey him.
2. A need for the future.
Whatever you want that is for the future; is not provided for today. Listen to your prayers: I would like a spouse, a better job, a better car, a better home. That is in tomorrow. You are anxious, upset and angry about tomorrow. It’s overwhelming you because there is no provision for that in today’s grace. God has not provided the grace for tomorrow today.
See Mathew 6:34; Tomorrow will worry about itself.
The reason you are anxious and upset with God is because He is not doing anything about it. According to his plan, that’s in tomorrow. Many days, months, years away from today. However, you have chosen to place it in your today; that’s why you are anxious and worried
3. A need for today.
This is the only day God has provision for in your life. The only moment you have is now. See James 4:13-17. That’s why 2 Corinthians 6:2 -Today is the day of salvation. The only moment that truly matters to God is now. God is working in the now.
1 Corinthians 10:13: Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out. Good News.
Many of us envision many years, days etc. but you will not be tested beyond right now.
Every care you have about now God is providing what you need.
Where is God?
God is here right now. He is with you now. God is in the now. How are you utilizing God’s “enough for today”? How effective are you today? I will do it tomorrow. Really? So, what can you do for God today? What has God provided for today that you are not doing? Right now, at your place of your work, right now in your business, right now in your family, right now in your health, right now as a mother, right now as a single woman, right now as husband, right now as an employee, right now in your walk with the Lord. There is grace for that. Where is God? God is in the now.
The grace He has provided for what happened yesterday is called forgiveness.
The grace He has provided for what will happen tomorrow is called Trust.
The grace is has provided for right now is called “enough”