Deuteronomy 8:1-3

"All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live." Deut. 8:1-3

I was thinking about the reasons God gave manna. He gave manna to humble them, to prove them, to feed them, to know what was in their heart and that they might know that man lives not by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. God gave the law for the purpose of showing up sin and to show what was in the heart. He has a purpose in all the things that He allows in our lives that He might try our hearts. He places us under harsh task masters that we might learn submission and humility and that we should do all things as unto Him and not unto man. He allows financial trials that we might know that He will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. He allows weakness that we might know His strength and that His grace is perfect in our weakness. He permits pain and sickness that we might glory in our infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon us and that we might ultimately glory in the God of all glory. Glory be to God for His infinite wisdom. Search me O Lord and know my heart. O Lord, that we may live by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God and give God, and God alone, the glory that is due Him.

by Linda Shepard