"The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan." (Exodus 16:35)
The Bible is filled with stories that inspire faith in God's providence. One such story is the miraculous provision of manna from heaven, a form of spiritual food that sustained the Israelites during their 40-year journey in the wilderness. This angelic bread, often called heaven's manna, symbolizes God's care and provision.
When the Israelites wandered in the desert, the Lord gave them a miraculous food substance that came with the morning dew and looked like frost on the ground. Exodus 16:31 describes it as something like “coriander seed, white, and its taste was like wafers and honey.”
This sustenance was unique in the manner and timespan the Lord used it in the lives of the Israelites, but the spiritual concepts involved with manna extend to believers today.
What is Manna?
Manna, often described as "bread from heaven" or "angelic bread," is a miraculous food that God provided for the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness after escaping Egypt. The Bible describes manna as a fine, flake-like thing, as fine as frost on the ground (Exodus 16:14). It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey (Exodus 16:31).
The Significance of Manna
The provision of manna from heaven was not just about physical sustenance. It was also a form of spiritual food, a daily reminder of God's constant presence and care. The Israelites were instructed to gather just enough manna for each day, a lesson in trust and dependence on God for their daily needs.
The manna from heaven also served as a test of obedience. The Israelites were commanded not to keep any of it until morning, except on the sixth day of the week when they were to gather twice as much in preparation for the Sabbath when no manna would appear (Exodus 16:19-26). Those who disobeyed found that the manna rotted and became infested with worms.
Manna in the New Testament
The theme of manna as spiritual food continues in the New Testament. In the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to himself as the "bread of life" and the true manna from heaven. He says, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh" (John 6:51).
In this context, Jesus is the ultimate spiritual food, offering eternal life to those who believe in him. Just as the manna sustained the Israelites in the wilderness, Jesus, the bread of life, sustains believers on their spiritual journey.
Manna Today
While we may not experience manna in the literal sense today, the story of heaven's manna still holds profound lessons for us. It reminds us of God's provision and care, encouraging us to trust in Him for our daily needs. It also challenges us to seek spiritual food, to nourish our souls with God's word, and to seek a deeper relationship with Him.
In conclusion, the story of manna from heaven in the Bible is a powerful reminder of God's physical and spiritual provision. It teaches us to trust in God's provision, to seek spiritual nourishment, and to obey God's commands. Whether we call it spiritual food, angelic bread, or heaven's manna, its lessons are timeless and relevant to our lives today.
The Manner of Manna
Manna appeared as a provision for the Israelites during a time when they could not farm because they had not yet come to the land that was to be theirs. God was teaching and purifying the people, readying them for their land of Promise. Until they were ready to set foot in a new season of promise, this time of purification required His provision for their earthly needs in unique ways.
Not only did God deliver food to their doorstep during this season, but He also miraculously kept their clothes from wearing out.
I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot. You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, so that you might know that I am the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 29:5-6).
The purpose of the manna provision was to help the Israelites know the Lord. Slavery had been a hard experience. Many of us know how the darkness of another’s sin can skew our understanding of God’s character. The desert season was an intimate time for the Lord with His people so that they would know Him. No taskmasters. No distractions of keeping up with daily chores. No demanding bills to pay. Just simple experiences of trust and provision.
It is meant to be a tangible revelation of His character whenever God provides for us. We are wise to consider all His provisions regularly and reflect on the relationship He builds between us.
The Mandates of Manna
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, “At evening you will know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt; and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, for He hears your grumblings against the Lord; and what are we, that you grumble against us?” (Exodus 16:4-7).
The provision of the Lord was to be gathered daily, with the only exception for the preparation of the Sabbath. If the Israelites gathered more than they needed, it would rot and become a disgusting mess inside their tent.
As believers, we are instructed to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). We can get so easily caught up in retirements and saving plans (that are good and wise), but at the end of the day, daily bread reminds us who does the real providing for us.
Daily bread reminds us of what is important and purifies our focus in this life.
For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and shelter, we shall be content with these. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:7-10).
A spiritual principle for our manna is that it isn’t meant to be hoarded. Just like the Israelites were instructed to only gather enough for that day, we are wise to be mindful of how we gather God’s provision.
The Israelites were also instructed to rest one day a week. This was for their fruitfulness. Rest requires we trust that God will provide for us. When we rest, it’s like a flag-waving over our lives, shouting, “I trust You, Lord!” As believers, we need rest too. When we engage in God-directed rest, it sings of our trust, too.
The Mission of Manna
Manna was also something that served as a dividing line for the Israelites. It was new and different and wasn’t continued into the Promised Land. It forced that generation of God-followers to know Him personally, rather than culturally or as a “family thing.”
You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 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 (Deuteronomy 8:2-3).
The earlier generations of Israelites did not get to interact with the Lord in this way. So, God’s provision was pulling them into intimacy and a sense of owning their faith journey as personal.
The manna provision also served to humble them. This provision was simply gathered up. The Israelites couldn’t boast any real effort or involvement.
Let us write it into our testimonies as personal and precious when the Lord provides for us. Let us note it and receive the work of His provision with complete humility, as well.
Manna in the Bible
Deuteronomy 8:3 - And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Revelation 2:17 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
John 6:58 - This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
Numbers 11:7 - Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium.
Exodus 16:31 - Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
John 6:31 - Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Oxana Medvedeva
April Motl is a pastor’s wife, homeschool mom, and women’s ministry director. When she’s not waist-deep in the joys and jobs of motherhood, being a wife, and serving at church, she writes and teaches for women. You can find more encouraging resources from April here and here.
