How did God train Israel as they were preparing to enter their Promised Land? Before they embarked on the biggest blessing of their lives…
He humbled them.
Listen to Moses’ words:
“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 the LORD.”
Notice three things:
- God’s love reaches our appetites.
- God ultimately satisfies our appetites.
- Therefore, God ought to be our chief desire.
Now, we know this theoretically, and probably even theologically.
But what happens when we feel that pinch of hunger? What happens when we lose the sense of security that things like food offer? What happens to our trust in God?
Israel needed to learn the same thing we need to learn today: Trust God for everything.
Recently, my Dad passed away, as you know if you’re reading these articles. During the nearly three weeks of hospice care, driving back and forth to Midland, and watching my Dad’s strength evaporate before our eyes, I was reminded of something this verse taps: humility.
It was not food, as in the case of Israel above, but watching and helping my Dad finish well (alongside my family and others) that ultimately brought me face-to-face with humility in a way I’ve never known.
Many of you have similar stories, which begs the question:
- How are we allowing our lessons in humility—experienced in our lack, our weaknesses, and many more limitations—to trust God?
Ultimately, we look no further than the Lord Jesus Christ, “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:6-7).
Indeed, it was Christ who embraced total humility, so that in our humbling we might receive grace to be strong (2 Cor. 12:9). Yes. It is the gospel that promises reconciliation through faith in Christ to God, which means my eternal destiny and fellowship with God are secure and undefiled. And the most amazing thing: God promises His presence with us today…in our hardest and most lonely times.
Our appetites may grow and change, but none satisfies like God. God alone uses our appetites to draw us to trusting Him. He humbles us to understand His ways are higher…He is our God!
Lord, help us walk in humility, and find strength in grace.
Amen and Amen.
— June 4, 2026