(Exodus) Exodus 16:14-24 — J. Vernon McGee

Manna as God’s Sustenance in the Wilderness

Now, let me read at verse 14, because manna is that which was their sustenance when they went through the wilderness. Verse 14,. "...and when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the whore-frost on the ground.

Gathering Manna as a Daily and Personal Provision

And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It's manna, for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat. This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded.

Gather of it every man according to his eating, and so on.". Now, we find that they were to gather it, but just enough for the day, because God would supply it every day. But of course, before the Sabbath day, they would get enough for the Sabbath, but it would not appear then.

The Consequences of Keeping Manna Overnight

And verse 20,. "...notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto Moses. But some of them left of it until the morning. It bred worms and stank, and Moses was wroth or angry with them. And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating.

Christ as the Bread of Life

And when the sun waxed hot, it melted.". It was to be gathered every morning, and each man was to gather it. You see, this was to be a personal experience. Now this speaks of Christ as the bread of life, and before we go any farther, I think we should establish that.

Because over in the 6th chapter of the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus said, beginning at verse 32,. "...then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven.

But my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.". Who is the true bread? Well, manna is that which represents Christ as the bread of life who came down from heaven to give his life for the world.

Manna’s Complete Provision for Israel

This does not represent him as the one we are to feed on daily. But it does represent him as being the one that gives us life and gives us sustenance. And the very interesting thing is, we'll find when we got to the book of Numbers, that during the 40 years that their feet did not swell.

That's interesting to note. A doctor, a medical missionary in the Philippine Islands told me, he says, the foot swells and beriberi out in the Orient because people have only one diet. And he says that caused foot swelling.

The very interesting thing is that the manna had all the vitamins in it. Their foot didn't swell going through the wilderness. It was all that they needed. It was adequate to meet all their need.