A Filling Fulfillment

Introduction

Let’s begin by reminding ourselves of a powerful reality: The need is just as valuable as the provision!

God’s people had arrived in the wilderness with a need of physical nourishment. It was here that God created a need just so He could fill it; He allowed hunger so He would have the opportunity to reveal His love by filling them.

We arrive at the place where God fulfills what He promised He would do; fill their belly.

1) God’s Word Is Sure (vv13-15)

Notice v13, “And it came to pass...”

Is it a wonderful thing when someone keeps their word and follows through with what they promised?

Our Father is the covenant keeping God! HE NEVER CHANGES!!!

1kings 8:56 “56 Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.”

1 Kings 8:56 KJV 1900

56 Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

Luke 21:33 “33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”

This provision was once again for a rebellious people!

Notice where this provision landed.

God doesn’t doesn’t dangle a provision for a need like the old man with the fishing pole (Illustration: old man waving a dollar bill in from of someone with a fishing pole)

God places His provision within reach of His people.

APPLICATION

MANA

Jesus is pictured through the giving of the mana!

Turn to: John 6:32-35, 48-51 “32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.......48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Picture the process of receiving the mana:

They had to come to terms with their personal hunger.

They had to bend over to pick it up (picture of humility; repentance)

They had to take for themselves (Jesus has to be received; faith)

Jesus is accessible!

The mana was made accessible to Jews.

Turn to: Romans 10:6-8 “6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;”

Side thought about mana:

They had never seen it before!

We sometimes draw our peace from being able to see and recognize a familiar solution.

Here is a peaceful thought: God can take something never seen or identified and fill today’s or tomorrow’s needs.

2) God’s Commandments Are Settled (vv16-21)

Notice how their blessings of quail and mana came with divine instructions

Mana of a morning and Quail of an evening.

Gather a certain amount daily

An “omer” for ever man who dwells in your tent.

Some gathered more and some gathered less.

No family had neither too much or not enough!

Not to waste what they had harvested

APPLICATION:

There are instruction for every blessing God has given you!

Because every blessings has a divine purpose.

Examples: Money, your job, family, life, love, etc....

God had His reasons for the morning provision and the evening provision.

We may not understand the way and timing of God’s provision, but, we can rest assured that it will always brings about the best outcome; that moment and moments to come.

There are many Bible examples:

Abraham & Isaac; Jonah & Whale; Feed of 5,000; Paul & Silas in prison; Daniel; three Hebrew children............

Mana’s parallel to Jesus Christ.

As they needed strength for their journey, so do we today.

As they “fed” on mana, we must “feed” on Jesus (reading, studying, meditation)

As they could not have too much or not enough, so we can never glutton or starve when we come to God’s truths.

Illustration: You can have all the notes in your Bible and verses underlined in your Bible, but that is not feeding on His word. GET IT IN YOU!