Exodus 16:18
And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
When measured with an omer, the manna gave each person exactly what was needed to eat, so that the one who gathered much had nothing left over and the one who gathered little had no lack. It teaches equality, that those who have abundance are to supply what those in need lack, so that plenty and need are shared and neither side is eased by burdening the other. Applied to Christian giving, this means offerings are to be willing and according to what a person has rather than beyond means, with even the poor denying self to help those whose need is greater. The miraculous supply also confirmed the seventh-day Sabbath hallowed at creation, testifying continually to the commandment given in Eden before it was proclaimed at Sinai. Even in providing food God sought Israel's highest good, giving manna fitted to build physical, mental, and moral strength, so that there was not a feeble one in all their tribes.
Manna Measured for Each
When measured with an omer, the manna left each person with exactly what was needed to eat, so that the one who gathered much had nothing over and the one who gathered little had no lack, each gathering according to his eating. After measuring there was no surplus for the large gatherer and no shortage for the small gatherer, for the provision was fitted to need. The manna was given by miracle under the leadership of Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, leading as a mighty General over a vast host of more than a million people with angels on either side so that no harm could come to them. That giving belongs to the same history as the Red Sea standing as walls, the passage through on dry ground, and the cloud as light to Israel and darkness to the Egyptians.
Even in providing food the highest good was sought, and the manna measured to each was of a nature to promote physical, mental, and moral strength. All habits of life were included in that education, with everything concerning well-being under divine care and law, so that despite the hardships of wilderness life there was not a feeble one in all their tribes. The portion provided was sweet and nourishing for body and soul when the people were content with it, while dissatisfaction brought corruption instead.
The miraculous provision sustained the validity of the seventh-day Sabbath hallowed at creation. It testified continually to the Sabbath commandment given in Eden before it was proclaimed at Sinai. The blessing was shared even with strangers among Israel who met the conditions, including honoring God's Sabbath, for the manna from heaven was provided for the people according to their needs.
Equality Shared in Practice
When measured by the omer, what was gathered in different amounts became exactly enough for each eater, with no surplus to the one who gathered much and no shortage to the one who gathered little, and this equalizing of need and plenty teaches that abundance is to supply lack so that equality is created without easing one party by burdening another. Giving under this rule is to be willing and according to what a person has, not beyond means, and ministers bear responsibility to educate the churches to abound in liberality. Even the poor are included in this giving, denying self to relieve need more pressing than their own, and churches are to give to meet the necessity of poorer churches, with the blessing withheld until neglect is sensed and duty is performed with a willing mind according to what is possessed.
Applied to the shared interests of the divine work, the same provision forbids arrangements by which some restrict or control the access of others to its benefits, since the supply was for the whole people according to need. Although every necessity for religious service could have been furnished without human aid, the wilderness provision required each person to cooperate in gathering, illustrating shared responsibility in which all contribute according to ability. The supplying of temporal necessities in this way shows that divine blessings are to be passed on to those who have less, and that providing food for the body belongs to care for body and soul together.
The account further shows that knowledge and skill concerning food are not to be concentrated in one person or group while others remain ignorant, for understanding can be given to others also. The light already given and still to be given on the food question stands to the present people as manna stood to Israel, to be gathered and prepared in many places as health foods suited to each country, not turned into financial speculation for personal gain, by combining the products of the earth into simple foods to take the place of flesh meat and by using that wisdom unselfishly to teach others and help poor brethren so that the poor do not suffer for the necessities of life. The daily gathering itself pictures the need to seek fresh spiritual nourishment and divine enlightenment morning and evening instead of relying on past blessings.