Trusting God’s Provision in the Desert

I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” – Exodus 16:12

In 2012 during my National Youth Service. My account with the federal government had technical issues and for three months I couldn’t get paid. I was in a foreign land, nobody to turn to for help but I trusted God and for those three months he met all my needs. I remember being in church one Sunday with the last cash I had on me being N100. I was  torn between dropping it as my offering and using it as transport back home. I dipped my hands into my pocket and before I could bring it out, the person beside me looked at me and said “I perceive you don’t have offering” and before I could respond he handed me a N500 note. Instead of keeping the 500 and dropping the initial 100 Naira in my pocket, I did exactly the opposite! Why? That gesture from the man beside me was all I needed to keep my faith going and God honoured it every day. I got back to my lodge only to be invited by the principal of the school where I was teaching. He gave me enough food items to last months. That same week, someone in another state was prompted by the Holy Spirit to send me some money.  In short, I didn’t have what you can call ‘abundance’ in those three months but I lacked nothing. God met my needs one day at a time.

The experience I had just shared was not any different from how the Israelites lived after they left Egypt. They found themselves in a barren wilderness, with no visible source of food or water. Their initial excitement over freedom quickly turned into fear and frustration. Yet, in their grumbling, God responded with grace, providing quail in the evening and manna every morning—a daily reminder of His faithfulness.

God’s provision of manna and quail wasn’t just about feeding His people. It was a lesson in trust. The Israelites were instructed to gather only enough manna for each day. When some tried to store extra, it spoiled, except on the Sabbath when God miraculously preserved it. This daily rhythm was God’s way of teaching them to depend on Him, not their own efforts. Isn’t it comforting to know that God still operates this way? He doesn’t give us everything we’ll ever need at once; instead, He supplies us daily, inviting us into a constant relationship of trust.

How often do we try to hoard control, worrying about tomorrow’s needs when God has already promised to provide for today? Matthew 6:34 echoes this truth: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Just as God met the Israelites’ needs each day, He is more than able to meet yours. Whether it’s a paycheck, an encouraging word, or strength to face a challenge, His provision will always come on time.

Take a moment to reflect: Are there areas in your life where you struggle to trust God for daily provision? He invites you to release your fears and embrace His faithfulness. The same God who provided in the wilderness still provides today. Let’s choose to trust Him fully, knowing that His resources are infinite, and His timing is perfect.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for being my provider. I confess that I often worry about tomorrow instead of trusting you for today. Help me to see your hand at work in my life and to rest in your faithfulness. Teach me to rely on your daily grace, just as the Israelites depended on your manna. I trust you to meet all my needs according to your riches in glory. Amen.