What is the distinction between prudence and planning ahead, and fundamental ambivalence about whether or not God can or will provide? Several clues might reveal the true state of our hearts. Do we trust our investment portfolio for our retirement years, or do we believe that God holds our days in His hands? Do we hold tightly to our resources, or do we believe that our God can multiply five loaves of bread and two fish to feed a multitude when we release our resources to Him? Most basically, do we worry, or are we content?
When God’s people grumbled against Him in the wilderness, griping about the limited menu options, God seized the opportunity as a teachable moment. Yes, God provided food, raining down bread in the morning and meat in the evenings. But God wanted more for His people than full bellies. Namely, God wanted them to trust Him to provide just what they needed. He longed for hearts that would be turned toward His. In their desert training ground, the Hebrews wouldn’t receive less than they needed and they wouldn’t receive more.
God’s heart for every one of His children is to receive exactly what we need. This includes our basic bodily need for food, which can also reveal something about our spiritual condition. God longs for those who eat little—whether wrestling with body-image issues or poverty— to receive what our bodies need. God longs for those who eat much—conditioned by a culture of indulgence to satisfy the palate—to receive what our bodies need. In each situation, we learn to trust God as a faithful Provider. And as we receive what we truly need, our bodies our souls are strengthened.
Apply the Word
If you live with little, God longs for your heart to trust Him. If you live with abundance, God longs for your heart to trust Him. What will it look like to trust God as a Provider? It might mean consuming a little less and it might mean sharing a little more. As the Spirit directs you, consider each meal you eat as a testament to God’s provision for all your needs.