Exodus 16

The manna in the Old Testament was real food; it nourished two million Israelites for forty years. But manna is also a symbol of “spiritual food”—the Word of God, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:3). Just as we need physical food every day, so we need spiritual food likewise. Jesus (His word) is our spiritual food (see Exodus 12:8–11 and comment). We must gather it (verse 4)—not just have it “spoon fed” to us. Do we gather into our soul the word of Christ each day? Our life depends on it (John 6:57–58).

9–12 As Aaron was giving God’s instructions to the people, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud above the Israelites’ camp (verse 10). The exact nature of the GLORY is not described, but the people experienced the awesome presence of God with them.⁴⁷

13–18 God had promised meat as well as bread (verse 12), so that evening quail flew in from across the Red Sea and fell exhausted to the ground. But the arrival of the quail was a one-time event, not a daily provision. Later on, God would provide quail once more, but under different circumstances (Numbers 11:31–34).

The manna, however, would be the Israelites main food for the next forty years (verse 35). They were told to gather no more than they needed for each day: an omer⁴⁸ per person (verse 16). By this they would learn the principle of equality that the Apostle Paul later taught in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 8:13–15): everyone should receive what he or she needs—not more, not less.

19–30 Most of the Israelites followed the Lord’s instructions, but some did not. Some Israelites gathered extra manna beyond their needs for one day; they lacked the faith that the Lord would provide for their daily needs. And of course, by the Lord’s design, the stored-up manna was spoiled by the next day (verse 20).

But the double portion of manna gathered on the sixth day did not spoil, and could be eaten on the Sabbath as well (verse 24). Nevertheless, some Israelites didn’t plan ahead or just didn’t obey, and they tried to gather manna on the Sabbath. The Lord was displeased: “How long will you (Israelites) refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?” (verse 28).

31–36 The Lord commanded that a portion of manna be preserved, so that later generations of Israelites could see for themselves how God provided for their ancestors in the wilderness. Aaron subsequently put the portion of manna in front of the Testimony (verse 34)—that is, in the ark of the Testimony, which later would be constructed and placed within the tabernacle (Exodus 25:22; Hebrews 9:4). The Testimony itself referred to the two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were soon to be inscribed by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18).