“You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh.” Deuteronomy 8:2-3

The point is to remember the wilderness. After 40 long years of wilderness wandering, the great blessings of the promised land lay ahead. Nothing would be easier than to allow the coming prosperity to overshadow the hardship of the past. As the people savored the rich produce and food the land provided, they might soon forget the miraculous manna God had fed them during their desert wanderings. The real food, however, was not the manna but the Provider; words echoed by Jesus in His wilderness temptation: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4.

Remember the wilderness. Remember God’s miraculous provision. During our times of provision and plenty, we must not forget the God who provided during our hunger and want. It becomes subtle idolatry if we come to depend on His provision rather than the Provider Himself. Such is the intent expressed in the model prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11. It’s not about the bread, but its source.

God has provided us with true manna: “I am the bread of life” John 6:35. A tangible and powerful reminder is found in the communion bread as we partake. This symbol must lead us to regular daily communion with Christ such that we might feast on the word of Yahweh as our rabbi teaches and feeds us from it.

We eat because we are hungry. May we have a great hunger that only the Provider can provide.

Be sure to also see Amazon ebook & print devotional and podcast: New Day Dawning.