Manna
“What is it? or a portion”
Summary
Manna was the miraculous food God provided from heaven to sustain the Israelites during their forty years of wilderness wandering.
☩Description and Collection
The manna first appeared after Israel's eighth encampment in the wilderness of Sin. It was described as small, round, white like hoar frost or the color of bdellium, and the size of coriander seed. When the Israelites first saw it, they asked 'man hu?' meaning 'What is it?'—from which its name derives. The manna fell with the dew each night and lay on the ground around the camp when the dew evaporated. Each person was to gather an omer (about three quarts) daily; any kept overnight bred worms and stank. However, a double portion gathered on the sixth day remained wholesome for the Sabbath.
☩Properties and Preparation
The manna could be ground in mills, pounded in mortars, and baked in pans or made into cakes. Its taste was like wafers made with honey or fresh oil. It needed to be gathered early each morning before the sun melted it. Scripture describes it poetically as 'bread from heaven,' 'bread of the mighty,' and 'angels' food.' Despite its supernatural origin, when the people grew weary of it and longed for Egypt's foods, they complained it was 'dry' and loathsome—a reflection of their spiritual condition rather than the manna's quality.
☩Duration and Cessation
The manna continued throughout Israel's wilderness journey, ceasing only when they crossed the Jordan and ate the produce of Canaan. At Gilgal, after eating the old corn of the promised land, 'the manna ceased on the morrow.' A golden pot containing an omer of manna was preserved before the Lord in the tabernacle as a perpetual memorial of God's faithfulness.
☩Spiritual Significance
The manna typifies Christ as the bread of life. Jesus declared to the crowds seeking miraculous bread: 'Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever.' As manna came freely from heaven without human labor, so Christ is God's gift of grace, freely given. As manna had to be gathered fresh each day, so believers must daily receive spiritual nourishment from Christ. The 'hidden manna' promised to overcomers in Revelation symbolizes the spiritual blessing of intimate communion with Christ in glory.
Related Verses20 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Manna," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Manna," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Manna," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Manna," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 5.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Manna," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).