“…man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” While we would immediately think of our Christ saying this in the gospels this quote is actually from Deuteronomy 8:3. The verse opens with “He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna…” God gently and, sometimes, not so gently reminds us that righteousness is always more important. More important than…well, everything- even eating. Isn’t God the One who told us He would provide for all of our needs if we looked to Him first? Yes, but notice: that requires us to put Him first. First, even before “our daily bread”. God Himself brought the Israelites to hunger without any food in sight before giving them relief. What can be learned here?
Even in the darkest hour God knows what we need. God knows how to, and will, provide. But, does that help when you are hungry? Well, that depends on what is inside you. The Israelites would intentionally starve themselves in order to focus their minds on God. The result was a self-discipline that meant troublesome times found them turning to God in prayer, rather than blaming God for their misery.
I know what you are thinking, “They DID blame God for their misery!” Yes, sometimes they did- and then we see a cycle of them falling into some form of oppression only for God to raise up a deliverer after they came to their senses. We should be smarter than that. We can learn from their mistakes.
“Man does not live by bread alone…” means remember that this life is just a temporary means to an eternal end. Tomorrow will be better if you rest in Him today. He is waiting at the end, stay the course and finish strong. Need nourishment now? Look to His Word. Need help with that? “The prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
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