God Gives What You Need – August 12, 2024

Read: Exodus 16:15-31

When the Israelites saw [the manna], 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. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need for each person you have in your tent.’” The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it , the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” 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. So Moses was angry with them.
Exodus 16:15-20

God Gives What You Need

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Did you know the average American makes $1.7 million over a lifetime? Wow! Can you imagine that much money? Maybe all that money makes you dream of living in big houses, driving fast cars, or eating fancy food. But if you asked a parent, they would tell you it’s impossible to get a million dollars all at once. They will tell you about monthly paychecks and money spent on food or a place to live. They will tell you about an incredible God who can give a million dollars over their whole life, but also a God who gives to us daily, monthly, and yearly. He provides what we need one day at a time.

Think of fruit boxes in the fridge or fruit from your kitchen counter. Just because there are lots of bananas and little cups of peaches in juice doesn’t mean you get to eat them all at once. Maybe an apple or banana at a time. You don’t eat the whole pack of peach cups in one sitting—eat one cup at a time, right?

That’s how God promises to provide for us—one day at a time. That’s what God taught the Israelites when they were in the desert in today’s Word of God. He provided them bread every day, bread that fell from heaven. It was miracle bread called manna. God told them to gather as much as they needed—but no leftovers. Moses, their leader, instructed, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” Some Israelites didn’t listen. They gathered more than they needed. That’s about as silly as trying to eat a hundred apples for one lunch!

Here’s the truth God is teaching in today’s devotion: It’s not wrong to have a hundred apples, and it’s not wrong to have a million dollars. But Jesus never told us to pray for a million dollars or a hundred apples. He taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” God taught the Israelites about that, too. He provided daily bread for them. They could trust the Lord to provide one day at a time, and we can, too.

Closing Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, give us today our daily bread. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What was the name of the special bread God sent to the Israelites every morning?
• How much bread did Jesus teach us to pray for in the Lord’s Prayer?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What lesson was God teaching the Israelites by sending them manna each day?
• Think of the food you love to binge-eat. How might today’s devotion help you reconsider healthy portions?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Consider the top three “wants” in your life right now. Write a prayer in your own words asking God to give you what you “need” for today.
• Predict what might happen to your faith if you spent the next ten years depending on God for daily bread.