Tests And Trials - The Manna Test

TITLE THE MANNA TEST

When you ponder the events of your life what comes to mind.

For me it’s those powerful moments

Those times when I was struggling

Those times when I had lost someone I love

Or was going through a financial crisis

Or was learning an important lesson about relationships

For me these climactic events, usually short lived, stand in my mind as my greatest struggles. / greatest victories

Most are moments I would never want to repeat.

Some I would like to do all over again, but most importantly, they were times when I really learned something substantial about myself and my relationship to God and man.

I am sure that you have experienced these kinds of tests?

James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

1 Cor. 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man

They are a normal part of our lives --- everyone goes through them

They have an important purpose also………..

1 Peter 1:7

These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

God’s tests are intended to strengthen us and bring glory to Him!

I have listened to a lot of testimonies in my time and some of my favorite were when the focal point was the sharing of God’s provision and grace during a difficult trial.

I will never forget Brother Mariano…

The insurance claim….

As I prepared this message I knew that God wanted me to share about life’s trials,

but I kept thinking about those monumental events others had experienced.

I kept saying “Lord I can’t do a good job in presenting this message because I don’t have a great testimony like these individuals.”

And I told him

Honestly, I really don’t want to go through the tragedies that these folks went through

Then in my devotions the lord led me to THE truth that I need to share with you

The trials of life that come like a flash

That stand as major events in our lives

Are not the most important trials that we will face.

The most important trials we will face

Are the relentless, persistent, continual tests of mere day to day living

The ones that consume most of our lives

That happen every day

These are the ones that accomplish the most in our lives

And thus we come to the Manna Test

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.

Manna

Manna was to the wondering Hebrews as Rice is to Chinese or potatoes to the Americans.

Except of course that’s all they had to eat

The word Manna means literally “What is it?”

Psalm 78:24-25 – helps define manna better---

he rained down manna for the people to eat,

he gave them the grain of heaven.

[25] Men ate the bread of angels;

he sent them all the food they could eat.

When the Hebrews came to eat they did not ask, “what’s for supper?” They asked, “how’d you fix it?”

Since it was all they had

They boiled it,

baked it,

broiled it,

barbecued it, and breaded it.

They ate it cold,

hot,

raw,

cooked,

slices for sandwiches,

and even baked into pies.

Exodus 16:35

The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

For forty years they ate it and all their days it was a test

For God said “In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. “

God custom designed their diet to be a day after day week after week test of their obedience, their patience, and perseverance.

You and I have never and will never see this miracle manna in our life time but

To Each saint God dispenses his manna test

The Manna test comes through those daily circumstances that make us grow deep and strong.

I would like to focus on some of the normal circumstances of our lives

Because we need to remember that through them we are right where Jesus wants us to be

For example

• you wake up in the morning and there is no hot water

• So you decide to make some coffee and the coffees all gone

• You decide to have that delicious apple juice you have hidden in the refrigerator and one of the family got to it first.