Israelites Gather Manna in the WildernessBible World
16:17Exodus 16:17
And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
The children of Israel gathered the manna as directed, some gathering more and some less, according to the number and needs of those in their tents. When what was gathered was measured, each household had enough for those in its tents, so that he who gathered much had nothing over and he who gathered little had no lack, with neither surplus nor shortage and none having extra.
The verse belongs to God's miraculous provision of bread and food from heaven to meet the necessities of His people in the wilderness, food that was also shared with compliant strangers among them, including those who respected His Sabbath. The giving and gathering of the manna was part of an all-embracing education covering all habits of life, showing that everything concerning Israel's well-being was the subject of divine care and came within divine law, and that even in providing their food God sought their highest good. The manna He fed them was of a nature to promote physical, mental, and moral strength, so that notwithstanding the hardships of wilderness life there was not a feeble one in all their tribes.
The miracle of the manna sustains the validity of the seventh-day Sabbath, which was hallowed and sanctified by God at creation, sustained by miracle in the giving of the manna, and proclaimed in the giving of the commandments on Mount Sinai with the Sabbath law placed in the very bosom of the Decalogue. The manna supplied their food in the wilderness and continually testified to the Sabbath commandment, which had been given in Eden before it was given at Sinai, and it was gathered according to the Lord's directions. The heavenly food was also shared with compliant strangers among Israel, including those who respected God's Sabbath.
The account illustrates that God provides what His people need and gives knowledge and skill to many, rather than reserving His gifts for one person or group. It teaches that God provides for both bodily and spiritual needs, and that those who receive heaven's blessings should share them with people who are less favored. Though God could have supplied everything needed for religious service, He left His people to cooperate with Him, because their moral discipline depended on each person doing something. The manna God provided was sweet and nourishing when the people were content with their portion, while dissatisfaction brought worms.
As Israel gathered and prepared the manna falling from heaven, so the light on the food question is to God's people today. In the different countries of the world health foods suited to those countries are to be prepared from the products of the earth to take the place of flesh meat. Members of every church are to cultivate tact, skill, ingenuity and understanding to learn how to combine them into simple, easily prepared foods, manufactured in many places and learned by all who accept the truth. Those given understanding of how to prepare them must use their knowledge unselfishly to help their poor brethren so the poor do not suffer for the necessities of life. As Israel gathered manna, church members should daily seek fresh spiritual nourishment and divine enlightenment morning and evening rather than be satisfied with past blessings.
The children of Israel gathered the manna as directed, some gathering more and some less, according to the number and needs of those in their tents. When what was gathered was measured, each household had enough for those in its tents, so that he who gathered much had nothing over and he who gathered little had no lack, with neither surplus nor shortage and none having extra.
The verse belongs to God's miraculous provision of bread and food from heaven to meet the necessities of His people in the wilderness, food that was also shared with compliant strangers among them, including those who respected His Sabbath. The giving and gathering of the manna was part of an all-embracing education covering all habits of life, showing that everything concerning Israel's well-being was the subject of divine care and came within divine law, and that even in providing their food God sought their highest good. The manna He fed them was of a nature to promote physical, mental, and moral strength, so that notwithstanding the hardships of wilderness life there was not a feeble one in all their tribes.
The miracle of the manna sustains the validity of the seventh-day Sabbath, which was hallowed and sanctified by God at creation, sustained by miracle in the giving of the manna, and proclaimed in the giving of the commandments on Mount Sinai with the Sabbath law placed in the very bosom of the Decalogue. The manna supplied their food in the wilderness and continually testified to the Sabbath commandment, which had been given in Eden before it was given at Sinai, and it was gathered according to the Lord's directions. The heavenly food was also shared with compliant strangers among Israel, including those who respected God's Sabbath.
The account illustrates that God provides what His people need and gives knowledge and skill to many, rather than reserving His gifts for one person or group. It teaches that God provides for both bodily and spiritual needs, and that those who receive heaven's blessings should share them with people who are less favored. Though God could have supplied everything needed for religious service, He left His people to cooperate with Him, because their moral discipline depended on each person doing something. The manna God provided was sweet and nourishing when the people were content with their portion, while dissatisfaction brought worms.
As Israel gathered and prepared the manna falling from heaven, so the light on the food question is to God's people today. In the different countries of the world health foods suited to those countries are to be prepared from the products of the earth to take the place of flesh meat. Members of every church are to cultivate tact, skill, ingenuity and understanding to learn how to combine them into simple, easily prepared foods, manufactured in many places and learned by all who accept the truth. Those given understanding of how to prepare them must use their knowledge unselfishly to help their poor brethren so the poor do not suffer for the necessities of life. As Israel gathered manna, church members should daily seek fresh spiritual nourishment and divine enlightenment morning and evening rather than be satisfied with past blessings.