Joshua 5:11–12
“And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.”
For forty years, the people of Israel lived on daily miracles: every morning they found manna on the ground, a reminder that God was their provider in the midst of the wilderness. They didn’t need to plant or harvest—only to gather what God gave them. But when they entered the Promised Land, that miracle ceased. The manna disappeared, and in its place came a new way of provision: the fruit of the land of Canaan.
At first glance, the end of the manna might have seemed like a loss, but in reality, it was the fulfillment of the promise. The manna was temporary provision in the desert; the land was the stable and abundant inheritance. What we learn is that God always provides, though sometimes He changes the way He does it. He is not limited to one method: at times He may work through visible miracles, and at other times He blesses us through a job, a gift, a business, or an open door.
This change also speaks to us of spiritual growth. In the desert, Israel lived like children, depending on “ready-made” food each day. In Canaan, God called them to mature: to sow, to work, and to enjoy what He provided. Childlike faith expects everything to fall from heaven; mature faith is grateful for what is received and manages it with responsibility.
For us, the lesson is clear: we must not cling to yesterday’s manna. If God closes a stage, it does not mean He has abandoned us; it means He is leading us into a new season of blessing. Perhaps today you are lamenting something that has ended—a job, a relationship, a source of help—but in reality, God wants to show you another form of provision, more solid and permanent.
Trust that the same God who sustained you in the desert is the One who will prosper you in your promised land. The method changes, but the faithfulness of God never changes.
