Yesterday I Tweeted this verse:
(An omer is one tenth of an ephah.) Exodus 16:36 NIV
I received some great replies, such as: “Thanks a lot!” and “That really helps!”
I was simply being silly, but truthfully, this has been one of my favorite verses over the years. I wrote a devotional about it at my Mustard Seed site in 1998!
Here is that devotional to explain:
Have you ever read a word or phrase in the Bible and it kind of caused you to ask….”Say what?” Well, that’s what the word “omer” did for me the first time I read it.
I had been eagerly reading the account of Moses and the Israelites on their journey to the promised land. God had provided for them each step of the way. Each morning they had their manna (bread), and in the evening they were provided quail. Now, I know that manna is a crisp and sweet tasting flaky bread type food, because the Bible tells me so.
But, what is an omer? What type of measurement is that? Moses, the writer of Exodus, tells us that each day the people were given an “omer” of manna. Okay, now just how much is that?
So, at the end of the 16th chapter, after continuing in my confusion, I read an answer: An omer is one tenth of an ephah! Well, of course it is…thank you very much! Problem solved.
Which begs another question………WHAT’S AN EPHAH?
But, you know, the answer I think lies more in what I don’t know than it does in what I do. You see, it doesn’t really matter! What matters is that the omer was just enough! It was all they needed for the day. No more…and no less!
And, you know what the best news of the day is? God’s word promises to His children today is that He will still provide for us our “omer”!
Now, I really don’t know how much that will be for you today….or for me…but I know this……..it will be just enough!
Oh Lord, give us this day our daily bread…our omer!
Thank God for your omer today!
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Profound…the omer was enough for ALL. Verse 18…So when thet neasured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.
What an awesome mighty and great GOD!
And they ate manna 40 years until they came to the border of the land of Canaan (v35). Wow!!!
I loved your devotional, explaining what an “omer” is. God has been so good in supplying my “omer” each day..wether it be my daily bread (food) or an “omer” of His grace! (& you were EXACTLY right in saying)..It’s just enough!! ( :
Thank God for the lesson in humility!!!
I was searching the internet after reading Exodus 16: 36 KJV like this writer did, 1st for the definition of omer; this lead me to ephah and then a 2d search for ephah.
I was still pretty much clueless. That lead me to search further. I stopped when I found this article.
Isn’t it amazing how God keeps it simple but we make it complicated. This article helped bring me right back to where I started. That’s a good thing though. God always has and always will provide us with just what we need. If He gave us all that we WANT when we want it, we wouldn’t appreciate Him the way we should.
He’s given me my omer. He’s given me physical food and spiritual food with this lesson in humility.
I woke up and read my daily devotion on God Tube. The reading was about the prophet Gideon. ( Judges 6 chapter) Which encourages to have faith in what Gods ask us to do even if we don't understand, as well as not
sure how we will accomplish the task. As I was reading I came across that word phrase again in verse 17, (an e'-phah of flour) I wonted to know what that word meant. I Google the word and that's when I came across your Blog. I would like to thank you for explaining this to me. I finally got the understanding of it's meaning. In addition; I recently started thinking about the fact that when I eat something tasty even though I ( Sometimes) have plenty of it I always enjoy smaller ( a tenth) amounts. Thank you.
Thank you for this, stunning! May I quote you on my blog?
Absolutely!
I also like Deuteronomy 30:15-20 where God spoke about choosing life and blessings today. I think sometimes we make so much out of a once-and-for-all decision for Christ that we lose sight that it's not just about what happens after death, but also about what happens as we live. Perhaps if we concentrate on living in God's absolute love today, then everything else will work out.
Good thoughts! Thanks!
So true. God does give us just what we need for the day. Great post – thanks for sharing!
Thanks Shelley!