WHEN MANNA CEASE

WHEN MANNA CEASES

BY: PASTOR RICHARD TAIWO OLOGBONYO (NCM).

There are three sets and categories of people in this world of ours. They include: TENANTS, WANDERERS, LANDLORDS. The children of Israel at some points passed through these three phases.

They were TENANTS in Egypt for a period of 430 years due to a covenant God had made with their Ancestor Abraham – Gen.15:13-14. Though as we all know that Tenants are to pay “something” for their stay but in the case of the Israelites, they didn’t pay any rent initially, but on the long run, they paid dearly – Exo.1:6-10. Their sojourn into Egypt dated way back to Joseph. Joseph’s story which we are very familiar with, He (Joseph) came into Egypt as a result of Opposition… Gen. 37:28 “Opposition is a tool for positioning one in a position of prominence” He (Joseph) was also sent to prison for an offence he didn’t commit Gen. 39:7-33… from slavery he moved into imprisonment but in all of these his stars was shining till he got connected to the King. “Joseph went into Egypt as a slave unwillingly and all that came through him ended up being slaves unwittingly” Majority of us has turned ourselves to economic slaves unconsciously through trips to the “city and overseas” – your movement must be a function of God’s direction not your own discretion.

WHAT ISRAELITES LEARNT IN EGYPT

They learnt God’s selective care – Gen. 47:27 They learnt God’s mercy in child bearing – Exo. 1:19 They had the experience of God’s manifold blessing God’s covenant of favor on their departure – Exo. 11:2-3 God’s covenant of defense – Exo. 14:19-20. WHAT THEY DIDN’T LEARN IN EGYPT. Though they were treated to a grand and a rousing welcome, they were introduced to royalty upon arrival, they were also given the best of lands in the land of Egypt and on top of all, and they were not subjected to any form of taxation. But in all of these enjoyments, they never thought about their future – this was their greatest mistake ever. From the phase of being TENANTS, they got to another phase of life – WANDERING – They became WANDERERS. Between the times one is released from the bondage and actual realization of one’s dream, there must have been a phase of WANDERING. God didn’t grant them a direct flight to Canaan; instead He made them pass through a season of WILDERNESS. Their prayers didn’t erase the wilderness because the wilderness is part of the syllabus which must be covered. A man with a dream wanders with his dream in His mind. The people you encounter in the course of the wandering determine the length of your journey.

WHAT ISRAEL DIDN’T LEARN IN WILDERNESS

In their entire sojourn in the wilderness they never learnt to appreciate God, all they did was to complain; do we also praise God in tough times? Learn to give thanks to God even in problematic times. In order to enjoy the best from God. One must learn to give up the Good and the Better. Manna is a temporary food for those who are themselves in an impermanent stage or conditions.