What is the Purpose of Manna?

What is the Purpose of Manna? by George Warnock. This unrest, this dissatisfaction, this hunger that persists among many of God’s people is ordained of the Lord to prepare us for Canaan fruitfulness. That manna in the wilderness causes us to hunger. It was designed for that purpose. It was never intended to satisfy our appetites, but it does meet our present need. God has been faithful in giving us all we need in the wilderness. But it has left us in a state of hunger, and with Divine intent and purpose. And what was that purpose? “That he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3). In other words, the manna was intended to meet our need, but to leave us in a state of hunger—that we might feast upon the Word of God. (What is the Purpose of Manna by George Warnock)

God is faithful to supply that measure of sustenance we need for our present need. There is manna from heaven daily; there is water out of the rock; there is healing along the way when we need it; there is the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. But without that spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, without that feasting upon the Word with eyes and minds illumined, and ears quickened to hear what the Spirit is saying to us today…without that vision of Canaan fruitfulness and victory…there can be nothing more than frustration and defeat, and a looking back for a restoration of the good old days of a past revival. (What is the Purpose of Manna by George Warnock)

What is the Purpose of Manna?

Perhaps the Protestant Reformation was the greatest thing since the dark ages. Perhaps the Wesleyan revival was greater than anything the world had seen up to that time. Perhaps Pentecost as we have known it was the greatest revival since the days of the early Church. Perhaps the revival of spiritual gifts and ministries was the greatest thing that has happened in our generation. Perhaps it was refreshing to rest under the palm trees and drink of the water and eat of the figs in the little oasis of Elim. (What is the Purpose of Manna by George Warnock)

But God would lead His people into realms in Himself, such as the church has never known, and He refuses to take us back to any place of blessing that He brought us through in the past. The manna does not speak of a carnal ministration. It speaks of “spiritual meat” (1 Corinthians 10:3). When God prepared this spiritual meat in heaven, He called it “angel’s food” or the “bread of the mighty” (Psalm 78:25). Then he sends it forth by His Spirit to sustain us and to strengthen us, but to leave us in a state of hunger, that in our great hunger and unrest and dissatisfaction with the “status quo we might feast upon the living Word—which is only LIVING and vital as it illuminates, and enlightens, and gives us a vision of the heritage that lies before us. (What is the Purpose of Manna by George Warnock)

What is the Purpose of Manna? by George Warnock An excerpt of “Another Generation Cometh”