Exodus 16:12

12 "I've listened to the complaints of the Israelites. Now tell them: 'At dusk you will eat meat and at dawn you'll eat your fill of bread; and you'll realize that I am God, your God.'"

Exodus 16:12 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 16:12

I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel
This Moses and Aaron had often affirmed, and now the Lord confirms what they had said, and lets them know that he took notice of their murmurings, and disapproved of them, and was displeased with them; though he did not think fit to resent them in an angry way, but dealt kindly and graciously with them; and since he had brought them into a wilderness, which was his own act, he would take care of them, and provide for them; which they might reasonably conclude he would, since he had done so many great and good things for them, in bringing them out of Egypt, and through the Red sea, and had slain all their enemies, and had given them water when in distress, and therefore need not have murmured nor have doubted but that he would give them bread also: speak unto them, saying, at even ye shall eat flesh;
meaning that very evening, when the quails came up, as the following verse shows: and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread;
the next morning, when the manna fell around their camp, so that they had bread, and fulness of it: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God;
good and gracious, kind and merciful, ever mindful of his covenant and promises, able to supply their wants, and provide them with everything necessary and sufficient for them.

Exodus 16:12 In-Context

10 When Aaron gave out the instructions to the whole company of Israel, they turned to face the wilderness. And there it was: the Glory of God visible in the Cloud.

11 God spoke to Moses,

12 "I've listened to the complaints of the Israelites. Now tell them: 'At dusk you will eat meat and at dawn you'll eat your fill of bread; and you'll realize that I am God, your God.'"

13 That evening quail flew in and covered the camp and in the morning there was a layer of dew all over the camp.

14 When the layer of dew had lifted, there on the wilderness ground was a fine flaky something, fine as frost on the ground.