“And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.”
The children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years before entering into Canaan, God’s Promise Land for them. They have been miraculously provided for in the desert when the Lord sent manna, the bread from heaven daily to feed them, except the Sabbath. They had provision of food from God every day without fail.
However, when Israel first crossed over Jordan into Canaan, the day after they have eaten the produce of the land, this miraculous provision of manna ceased. They had to learn how to continue to be fed with the produce in the Promise Land. They were not to rely on manna, handed to them by the grace of God, without having to work for it. They had to cultivate the land, rear livestock on the land, so that they and their children, and their children’s children will continue to have food. They are to rely on God for favourable circumstances for planting and trust Him for harvest.
Manna while it is great, straight from God’s hand, free and easy was but the demonstration of God’s mercy in the midst of judgment – wandering in the desert. Manna is for desert, not for Promise Land. Manna is for the people themselves, could not be stored, could not be preserved for the next day (except collected the day before Sabbath), could not be passed on to others. Not capable of becoming a legacy for future generations.
Crops and livestock, produce of the land is for Promise Land, not for desert. Produce of the land can be multiplied, preserved, passed on to the future generations (land). Its fruitfulness of harvest can be used to bless others, even foreigners. Though it requires hard work on man’s part, it is God who gives the harvest, increase and fruitfulness. An entirely different ball game, so to speak.
Are you desiring “manna” in your life? Unless you are still wandering in the “desert”, manna is not for you. While in Promise Land, think Promise Land! If you find that manna has stopped in your life, praise the Lord! For He deems you ready and worthy to enter into your Promise Land. Cultivate your Promise Land with the wisdom and gifts He has given you. Trust in the Lord and lean on Him alone. For He will surely prosper the works of your hands and grant you good success. Cheers!
What legacy do you want to leave to the next generation? Ask the Lord to help you to sow the right seeds, cultivate them to fruitfulness.