Entering The Broad Place
Exchanging manna for the provision of the Promised Land
And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. (Joshua 5:12, ESV)
Imagine being born shortly after your parents left Egypt. You would grow up in the wilderness eating manna. You would likely hear stories of God’s miraculous provision. You would hear about water coming from a rock. His daily, miraculous provision would be completely normal to you. You would never be hungry and never have known anything different.
But here’s the thing — manna wasn’t God’s best for the Israelites. God’s intention for them was to enjoy “… houses you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees you did not plant — and when you eat and are full…” (Deuteronomy 6:11, ESV) There was nothing wrong with manna. It was good and necessary for a season. It just wasn’t His best. That’s why it stopped when they stepped foot in the promised land.
As believers, it’s easy to mistake God’s miraculous provision for His stamp of approval on our season or current circumstance. Don’t get me wrong, God’s miraculous provision may very well be His stamp of approval for you in your current season. I don’t know your current situation. What I do know is that manna wasn’t intended to be the Israelite’s permanent source of provision.
It’s easy to accept our current situation or season as normal. This is especially true when your current season or situation has persisted for what feels like a long time. We subconsciously begin to believe that this is our lot in life. But what if you have been settling for manna when God has grapes so big two guys have to carry them on poles (see Numbers 13:23)? What if He has more for you than day to day and month to month? What if His intention for you is abundance and not just enough?
Our Father is so good that He promises to provide for our daily needs. In other words, the manna will always be there if you need it. But so will the abundance of the Promised Land. Which would you prefer? The crazy thing is that the choice is yours. He won’t make you decide.
When we are in a tough season, it’s easy to begin to doubt God’s intentions toward us. In Psalms, we read that God’s intention is to bring us “… into a broad place” (Psalm 18:19, ESV). I don’t know about you, but when I think of a broad place, I envision a place of possibilities and abundance, not restriction and lack.
That broad place exists for you. Rest assured that the abundance of the promised land is available to you.
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