“He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you" (Deuteronomy 8:16).
Lord our God, You are the only wise God—“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His" (Daniel 2:20). There is no God like You in heaven or on earth (2 Chronicles 6:14).
In Your grand design for the future of a nation, for the ransom of humanity, You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron (Psalm 77:20). Moses reminded them of Your care and Your lovingkindness—how You caused them to hunger and then fed them with manna..., to teach [them] that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:3).
And yet, O Lord, in the middle of testing, even as You taught them humility and dependence, even as You disciplined them like a father (Deuteronomy 8:4), You protected them, You provided for them, You preserved them so that [their] clothes did not wear out and [their} feet did not swell during...forty years (Deuteronomy 8:4).
You never change O God. You are the same faithful God who led Your ancient people. And just as You led Your people then, You lead Your people today. Only with Your help can we come through the treacherous wilderness stretches of life—the empty and desolate places of sickness and disease, captivity and addiction, separation and estrangement, pain and sadness, loneliness and despair, brokenness and grief.
Thank You that You are with us through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions (Deuteronomy 8:15). How perfect is Your leading—how invaluable Your lessons! You wean us away from deadly pride—from the trap of self-dependence and the dangerous illusion of control—by causing us to hunger and then feeding us with Your manna (Deuteronomy 8:3).
Thank You O Bread of Heaven, for providing manna in the wilderness. Thank You, O Fountain of Life, for bringing us water out of hard rock. Thank You O Shepherd of our souls for bringing us safely through all testing and hardship.
Thank You, O Divine Counselor, for teaching us that physical provision alone cannot sustain us. Thank You O Living Word for every syllable that comes from the mouth of God and into the deepest longings of our soul so that in the end it might go well with [us] (Deuteronomy 8:15-16). Thank You, O King Eternal that You ultimately lead us into Your good land (Deuteronomy 8:7).
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