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The Wilderness School – Tuesday, 07/07/2026

Scripture: Exodus 16:1–5, 13–21

The Israelites were free from Egypt, but they were not yet home.

That in-between place was uncomfortable. They were no longer enslaved, but they were still hungry, uncertain, and afraid. The wilderness exposed how vulnerable they were.

So they complained. And honestly, we can understand why.

They did not know where the next meal was coming from. They did not have a pantry full of supplies. They could not see the whole plan. They had to depend on God in a way that felt risky.

Then God gave manna.

Every morning, bread appeared on the ground. It was enough. But only enough for the day. If they tried to hoard it, it spoiled.

That was not just a food plan. It was spiritual formation.

God was teaching them trust one day at a time.

Many of us would prefer a different arrangement. We would like God to give us enough certainty to never feel vulnerable again. Enough control to never feel anxious again. Enough answers to never have to wait again.

But manna does not work that way.

Daily bread teaches us to come with open hands again and again. It teaches us that God’s faithfulness is not something we stockpile. It is something we receive.

Practice: Notice where you are trying to “stockpile” security today. Ask yourself: “What am I trying to control because I am afraid to trust God one day at a time?” Then pray: “God, give me enough manna for today.”

Prayer: Faithful God, you met your people in the wilderness with bread for each day. Meet me in the places where I feel uncertain. Teach me to trust your provision, not my ability to control everything. Amen.