Nehemiah 9:9-15: a reflection

9“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea, 10and showed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that they dealt proudly against them, and made a name for yourself, as it is today. 11You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters. 12Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go. 13“You also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 14and made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, statutes, and a law, by Moses your servant, 15and gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought water out of the rock for them for their thirst, and commanded them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them.

As the Levites lead the people in confession and worship, they recall how God provided for their fathers on the long journey through the wilderness. You gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, they pray, and brought water out of the rock for them for their thirst. On the way through the wilderness, where there was no food and no water, God provided for his people's daily needs, giving manna for their hunger and water from the rock for their thirst. He did not leave them to fend for themselves on the journey; he provided what they needed, day by day, faithfully, all the way through. God's provision met their needs on the journey.

Notice God's faithful provision for his people's daily needs on the journey. The wilderness had no bread, no water; the people could not have provided for themselves. But God provided, giving them bread from heaven for their hunger and water from the rock for their thirst, meeting their daily needs faithfully throughout the long journey. He did not provide once and leave them; he provided day by day, all the way, sustaining them through the wilderness. God's provision was faithful, meeting the real needs of hunger and thirst as they arose on the journey. He carried his people through the wilderness by his daily provision, giving them what they needed for each day of the way.

That is worth taking to heart, for God provides faithfully for our daily needs on the journey of our lives. We travel through our own wilderness at times, where we cannot see how our needs will be met; but as God provided bread and water for his people in the wilderness, meeting their daily needs, he can provide for ours. God is a faithful provider, meeting the real needs of the journey day by day. When you cannot see how your daily needs will be met on the journey, remember that God provided faithfully for his people in the wilderness, and can provide for you. Trust God's faithful provision for your daily needs on the journey of your life, as he gave his people bread from heaven and water from the rock in the wilderness; for God provides for the real needs of the journey day by day, and the God who sustained his people through the wilderness can be trusted to provide for us on our way.

Lord, as the Levites lead the people in confession and worship, they recall how you provided for their fathers on the long journey through the wilderness. You gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, they pray, and brought water out of the rock for them for their thirst. On the way through the wilderness, where there was no food and no water, you provided for your people's daily needs, giving manna for their hunger and water from the rock for their thirst. You did not leave them to fend for themselves on the journey; you provided what they needed, day by day. Show me your faithful provision for your people's daily needs on the journey. The wilderness had no bread, no water; the people could not have provided for themselves. But you provided, giving them bread from heaven and water from the rock, meeting their daily needs faithfully throughout the long journey. You did not provide once and leave them; you provided day by day, all the way. Your provision was faithful, meeting the real needs of hunger and thirst as they arose. Take that to my heart, for you provide faithfully for my daily needs on the journey of my life. I travel through my own wilderness at times, where I cannot see how my needs will be met; but as you provided bread and water for your people, you can provide for me. You are a faithful provider. When I cannot see how my daily needs will be met on the journey, help me remember that you provided faithfully for your people in the wilderness, and can provide for me, Lord. Help me trust your faithful provision for my daily needs, as you gave your people bread from heaven and water from the rock in the wilderness.