“‘Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.’ On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none.”
– Exodus 16:26-27
What is it about us that compels us to “check on” God and try to get around His clear rules?!? Out in the desert, God told His people that there would be a double-portion of manna available on the sixth day and absolutely none on the Sabbath. There would be no point in going out to gather on the Sabbath. Then He provided the double-portion on the sixth day which they could clearly see. And yet…. People still went out to check on the Sabbath and see if they could “get ahead” by gathering up some extra manna!
If we’re honest, we can see ourselves in this story. We feel compelled to verify whether God is actually serious and truthful. Something compels us to try and find ways around His rules, “just in case” His provision isn’t enough. Why do we do these things? Why do we struggle to believe God when He’s always been completely trustworthy? Why do we look for reasons to believe His rules don’t apply to us? Why are we seldom satisfied in His perfect provision?
Is there something in your life that tempts you to “check on God”? Is there something that tempts you to try and bypass His design for life? If there isn’t, that’s wonderful. If there is, ask yourself what keeps you from fully trusting God’s Word, promise, and provision? Is it something in your past? Some fear, failure, or lack?
What makes you think you need more than God permits? If your faith is in Jesus, you are in union with the eternal Son of God. You’ve been forgiven, freed from sin’s power, adopted into God’s family, and sealed by God’s Spirit. Discipline your mind to be satisfied with that! Learn to walk by faith rather than by your own sight. Resist any temptation to try and get ahead in a way that is displeasing to God. Instead, take all your requests to God in prayer and simply #FollowJesus