Action Required

“Manna was like coriander seed and had the color of resin.
When they had gone about and gathered it up, the people would grind it between millstones or pound it in a mortar, then cook it in a pot and make it into loaves, with a rich creamy taste.”

Numbers 11:7-8

In the desert, the Israelites complained about the food and lamented not being in Egypt where they had fish and other foods. They said now all that was before them was “this manna.” How ungrateful! They needed to gather it, prepare, and cook it. I guess they didn’t want to work. God gave them the ingredients, the ability to work and cook, and yet they complained. God does provide, but do we seize the opportunity?

God gives us everything we need to succeed, but do we use them? For example, if you want try this new recipe, and someone helps you purchase all the ingredients and lay them out before you, but if you do not prepare the ingredients, turn the stove on, and actually cook it, nothing happens. As a teacher I have often told my students that they have everything they need to succeed in front of them, but it is up to them if they want to make use of those resources. In the same way, God always provides for us, it may not always be in the shape that we would hope (all done and with no work needed), but God provides. God provides, but we must take action. Action is required on our part. We must act, but first we must pray and listen to what the Lord is saying to us. Just as a student ought to listen to his or her teacher’s instructions before completing an activity, so must we sit in the silence and listen to the Lord speak to us before we take any action. Action without prayer is reckless, and prayer without action is irresponsible. God calls out to you today. What is He saying? What will you do?