Manna Ceased

Manna Ceased:

Today, we turn our attention to the powerful words found in Joshua 5:12, which declares: 

"And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year."

For many years, the children of Israel had gotten accustomed to the miraculous provision of manna from heaven. Day after day, God had faithfully supplied their needs, raining down this heavenly bread to sustain them in the wilderness. 

But now, as they stood on the edge of the Promised Land, God had a new plan.

The days of manna were over. 

The time had come for the Israelites to take responsibility and work on the land for their own provisions. 

No longer would God simply drop manna from the sky – instead, they were to eat "of the fruit of the land of Canaan," the harvest of their own labour on the land.

This transition serves as a powerful lesson for us today. 

In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Apostle Paul says,

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." 

Just as the Israelites were to cultivate the land and reap its fruits, we too are called to be responsible stewards of the resources and opportunities God has given us for our own provisions.

Proverbs 10:4 reminds us, 

"He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich."

The days of laziness and dependence on manna are over. 

It is time for us to embrace the fruit of our own labour. To work diligently with our hands, and trust God to bless the work of our hands.

In Ephesians 4:28, we read, 

"let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth."

Friends, let us not be idle believers waiting for the miraculous to happen. Let us be found faithful in the work God has set before us. 

Let us cultivate the land of our lives, tending to the fruit that God desires to produce through us. 

Proverbs 14:23, says,

"In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury."

Let us rise up, shoulder our responsibilities, and boldly step into the fullness of all that God has in store for us. 

Let us be diligent in our labours, so we can eat the fruits of the land.

Manna is sweet, but the fruits of our labour are sweeter.

Boniface Amani Gichina (CPM)