ARTICLES

The Ark of the Covenant Series - Part 2: The Pot of Manna

Living by Faith, Not by Sight

A Three-Part Series by Dr. Andrew David Edited and Arranged by Easter Prince

Introduction

In Part 1, we discovered how God's law works through the Spirit in our hearts. But law alone isn't enough—even Spirit-led obedience needs the fuel of faith. The pot of manna represents the second essential element for victorious Christian living: daily dependence on God. Today we'll explore why Solomon's removal of the manna marked a turning point toward spiritual decline.

Background: The Daily Miracle of Manna

The pot of manna contained some of the supernatural bread that sustained Israel for 40 years in the wilderness. Manna came fresh every 24 hours—no more, no less. God was teaching His people a crucial lesson: don't worry about tomorrow. This perfectly aligns with Jesus' teaching: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things" (Matthew 6:34, NKJV). The manna was God's practical school of faith, training His people to trust Him daily.

The Pot of Manna: Living by Faith

Faith vs. World's Security System

The pot of manna represents living by faith in God's daily provision. Many Christians save money in the bank "for the rainy day"—but this reflects the world's principle, not God's. You can have money in the bank, but remember: it's not for the rainy day, it's for the Lord. It's the Lord's money, and your trust must remain in Him, not in your bank balance. If you don't live by faith, soon God's Word loses its value in your heart and becomes mundane religious activity.

Solomon's Fatal Mistake

This is exactly what happened in Solomon's heart when he removed the manna from the Ark. Solomon stopped walking by faith, symbolized by his removal of the manna. Many Christians today make the same mistake—they secretly trust other things in the sensual reality instead of God's promises. The moment you're trusting your bank balance or health report more than God, you become a sitting duck for Satan.

The Faith Test Challenge

Here's a challenge to test if you're truly walking in faith, as Paul instructs: "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5, NKJV). Take all the money you're secretly trusting, imagine wiping it out from your bank and giving it to the poor and needy. See if your heart goes into palpitations or remains at rest. Some of you have already gone into palpitations just reading this! Close your eyes and imagine giving away all your saved money for the poor—what emotions arise? Suddenly you realize you're not trusting God anymore—your secret trust is on the money. Caught you! Ask the Lord to help you return to faith every day.

Kingdom Principles vs. World's System

The Abundance Mindset

We need to persuade our hearts daily, otherwise we'll think and act like the world and only get the world's results. Remember this: there is never lack in the kingdom—there is always abundance. God's economy operates on completely different principles than the world's

system. When you truly live by faith, you tap into heaven's unlimited resources.

Practical Faith Living

When worry comes, I take an inventory like this: "Do I have food for today?" Yes. "Is my family safe and with me?" Yes. "Do I have a nice warm bed to sleep?" Yes. Then I simply go to sleep with thanksgiving. He provided all this today, and He will continue to do so until I exit this body. This is the Father we have—completely trustworthy and endlessly generous.

The Deadly Consequences of Removing Manna

When Faith Dies, Religion Takes Over

Without the pot of manna, Christian living becomes dead religion. You go through the motions, but there's no life, no power, no joy. The Word becomes just words on a page instead of living bread. This is why many churches are full of people but empty of God's presence.

The Cycle of Spiritual Decline

Here's how it works: when you stop living by faith, you start trusting in natural things. The more you trust natural things, the less you trust God's promises. The less you trust God's promises, the more the Word loses its power in your life. Eventually, you're living like an unbeliever with Christian vocabulary.

Lesson for Life: Daily Dependence

Faith isn't a one-time decision—it's a daily choice to depend on God's provision. Every morning, you must choose: Will I trust God today or will I trust in my own resources? The pot of manna reminds us that God's provision is always fresh, always sufficient, always on time. Don't make Solomon's mistake of removing daily faith from your spiritual life.

To-Do List: Cultivating Daily Faith

Morning declaration: Start each day declaring your dependence on God's provision. Trust inventory: Regularly examine what you're secretly trusting instead of God. Practice gratitude: Thank God for today's provision before asking for tomorrow's. Give generously: Practice giving as a way to build trust in God's provision. Reject worry: When anxiety comes, take inventory of God's current provision. Study God's faithfulness: Read testimonies of God's provision in Scripture and in others' lives. Pray for faith: Ask God to increase your faith daily (Luke 17:5).

Questions for Reflection:

• What are you secretly trusting more than God's promises?
• How has worry affected your ability to trust God's provision?
• What would change in your life if you truly believed God's resources are unlimited?