By Bishop Jerry Peña, God’s anointed servant
When the Israelites came out of Egypt, God chose to feed them in a very specific way:
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.’” (Exodus 16:4)
God could have given them barns full of grain. Instead, He gave manna that lasted only one day (except before the Sabbath). This was more than food—it was a test of trust. Would they rely on His Word each morning, or would they worry and try to hoard?
God’s purpose in daily manna was clear:
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He repeated the lesson of manna:
“Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)
Notice—He didn’t say “Give us our bread for the year.” The rhythm of prayer is daily trust, not lifetime stockpiling.
And when He was tempted in the wilderness, He quoted Deuteronomy 8:3:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Matthew 4:4)
Manna pointed beyond food to the greater reality: God’s Word is our truest provision.
The manna in the wilderness was a shadow of something greater. Jesus declared:
“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.” (John 6:48–50)
Just as manna sustained Israel physically, Jesus sustains us spiritually. Every day, we must feed on Him through His Word, His presence, and His Spirit.
Father, thank You for showing us through the manna that You are faithful every single day. Forgive us when we try to store up for ourselves or live in fear of tomorrow. Teach us to gather our portion from You each morning—whether it is food for our body, strength for our soul, or wisdom for our steps. We declare that Jesus is our Bread of Life, and we choose to trust You daily for all that we need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“Do I really know God, or just know about Him?”
This question haunts many believers. In a world where Christianity can be reduced to cultural identity or religious routine, how can we know if we have a genuine relationship with the Living God?
If prayer were not important to heaven, why would Jesus pray? If prayer were not essential to the Kingdom of God, why would the Apostle Paul command the Church to pray without ceasing?
An individual with an Ahab spirit will often make truces instead of relationships. It speaks of a mind-set that avoids confrontation and denies fault.
