A Word from Joshua 5

Do you think there are times when the removal of God’s blessing can be a blessing? After all, sometimes, we turn to the Lord in desperate need. And scripture gives us every reason to believe that He will provide. And yet, what if there are times when the absence of that provision is a good thing? And what will we do if that happens?

I ask this because today’s word from Joshua 5 contains an important detail, which it’s easy to skip over. To set the scene, the people of Israel had just crossed over the Jordan River and have entered the Promised Land. For 40 years, they’d been wandering in the wilderness. And despite their repeated stubbornness and disobedience, God continued to journey with them, and He continued to provide for them the manna that had sustained their lives.

But now, an important milestone has been reached. They’ve entered the land that God had promised all those years ago. And the Bible says this: “While the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated Passover…The very next day they began to eat unleavened bread and roasted grain harvested from the land. No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on, the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan.” (5:10-12; NLT)

You see, the manna was God’s gift for a particular part of their journey. But now that they were in the land, it wasn’t needed anymore. And even though God would continue to provide, it would be in new ways.

Sometimes, of course, we get comfortable with the way that God’s been working in our lives. And we get scared or disappointed when His ways change. But just think: Maybe you’re ready for a new part of your journey with God. And even though the particulars of His provision might change, His presence with you and His love for you won’t.

So, may you move forward in confidence today, trusting that even in times of change, the Lord will be with you. Amen.