Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Give us today our daily bread.  -Matt. 6:11

This petition in the Lord’s Prayer is asking God to provide for our needs.  After the Exodus, the nation of Israel wandered through the wilderness.  God promised to “rain bread from heaven” (Ex. 16:4) for the people.  One interesting fact about this provision was its unique nature of being a daily provision.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you.  The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.  This way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow My instructions.  -Ex. 16:4

Have you ever wondered why God wanted the people to gather just enough for that day rather than stockpiling the food?  Could it possibly be because he wanted them to trust him daily?

The LORD spoke to Moses, “I have heard the complaints of the Israelites.  Tell them: At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will eat bread until you are full.  Then you will know that I am Yahweh your God.”  -Ex. 16:11-12

How did God’s provision and the people’s understanding of him correspond with one another?

Just like he promised, God provided for the people.  When the people saw the “fine flakes” of bread on the ground, “they asked one another, ‘What is it?’ because they didn’t know what it was” (Ex. 16:14-15).  The word manna actually means “what is it.”

These former slaves had become dependent upon the provision of their taskmasters.  Now free from their control and their provision, they were without access to basic needs.  In this dependant and helpless state, God provided for them.  It was a test to trust him daily for what they needed.

It is difficult to trust God once, but to trust him daily is a continual stretching endeavor.

Hopefully, you see the connection with this narrative and Jesus’ prayer.  “Our Father, will you give us our daily bread?”

  • We are not asking for tomorrow’s bread.
  • We are not asking for jelly to smother today’s bread.
  • We are asking for our basic needs to be supplied.

In utter dependence, it is this acknowledgment: God, if you don’t feed us, we won’t eat.

What are our needs?  Remember, this is not just about your needs.  What are our needs?  What are the needs facing the Church?  Our family?  The Body of Christ?

Instead of doing what you can do to fix these situations, have you asked God to show himself again as the LORD who provides (Gen. 22:14)?

Today would be a great day to trust God for what he can do.  Are you overwhelmed with the needs today?  Write out our needs below and pray for God’s provision.