When is the last time that you lived by faith? I don’t simply mean do you have faith? I mean, do you really live like everything doesn’t depend on you? The old hymn “Living By Faith” lays it out beautifully:

“I care not today, what the morrow may bring, if shadow or sunshine or rain. The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything and all of my worry is vain. Living by faith in Jesus above, trusting confiding in His great love. From all harm safe, in His sheltering arm, I’m living by faith, and feel no alarm.”

My fear is that this song is the greatest lie ever sung. Sure, the words sound comforting, but do we live them? Do the same people who sing those words spend time later that very day in worry and in lack of faith?

In Exodus 16 God was providing proof to the Israelites that He and He alone was all that they really needed. He had already delivered them from 430 years of slavery. He had defeated Pharaoh’s army, guided them by pillar of cloud and fire, and gave them water to drink. Now He was providing food (Mana from heaven).

The Israelites were told to arise early in the morning and collect food for them to eat that day. However, they were commanded not to save any of it for later. Exodus 16:19- And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” Why is this important? Why were they not allowed to save any of it for tomorrow? Because, they needed to be trusting in God’s providence and not their own.

Unfortunately, the Israelites didn’t listen. When they didn’t listen, the results were unpleasant. Exodus 16:20- But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. When we try to live our lives leaning more on our ability to provide, protect, and control than we do on God the results will be unpleasant. No, all the bread in your house probably won’t start growing worms (unless it’s been in there for a REALLY long time). However, you will find that your life is less than desirable when every decision you make is based upon your ability. You will spend much more time being stressed out, and you will accomplish much less than you would if you legitimately “lived by faith.”

In Him,

Troy