Exodus 16:4, commentary and pictures

God would miraculously rain bread from heaven to feed hungry Israel in the wilderness after Egypt, sending it daily with the dew and requiring the people to go out and gather a measured portion each day as directed. The daily gift was given to prove whether they would walk in His law, revealing loyalty and obedience by whether they valued His service above former indulgences. That test centered on the seventh-day Sabbath, hallowed at creation and upheld before Sinai, by a continual threefold sign of a double portion on the sixth day, none on the seventh, and preservation fresh through the Sabbath, with all baking and boiling done on the preparation day. The simple healthful food also disciplined appetite and moral strength, teaching that unless appetite is governed people cannot be governed by law, while murmuring for Egypt's flesh-pots brought disease and death. Day by day it taught constant dependence on God for present need, and as a figure it pointed to the true Bread from heaven, Christ Himself and His Word, to be gathered daily by prayer and feeding on Scripture for spiritual life and growth.

Wording and Wilderness Setting

The promise to rain bread from heaven was a miracle to meet Israel's hunger after deliverance from Egypt, given under the leadership of Jesus Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud as part of the continuous history told in Exodus 13, 14, 15, and 16. It descended with the falling dew as a daily provision and manifestation of divine power to supply what the people needed. It stands together with dividing the Red Sea to bring Israel through on dry land with waters like a wall on either side and bringing water out of the flinty rock as proof of divine power, showing ability to provide even meat to supply the whole host for a whole month.

The command to gather a certain rate every day meant a measured daily portion to be gathered as directed, satisfying hunger while testing whether they would obey the law. Although the bread came by a miracle of mercy, the people were required to cooperate in gathering it, and their shared participation was part of the moral discipline God intended. That same principle of entrusted means and contribution according to ability applies to giving. The gathering included a double supply on the sixth day so the Sabbath could be kept sacred.

The stated purpose to prove whether they would walk in the law means the daily provision tested loyalty and obedience during the wilderness journey. God withheld what Israel had enjoyed in Egypt to reveal whether they valued His service and the freedom He had given above former indulgences. The manna given in that testing was healthful food. The same proving meets Sabbath-keepers when they choose between God's service and the world's fashions and pleasures.

The directions given through Moses about gathering only a set amount each day were to prove obedience after God brought Israel out of Egypt that they might keep His Sabbath. Because God has spoken they are to be heard and obeyed, and they were recorded for the benefit of all who would live on earth to the close of time. The provision lasted through the forty years of wandering, with a special sixth-day gathering of twice the usual amount preserving the Sabbath law throughout that time. It continued to fall while Israel camped beneath Sinai for nearly a year. The generation that crossed Jordan and lived faithfully under Joshua had been accustomed to eating that bread daily in the wilderness, while the new generation that came after Joshua and the elders died had not been so accustomed.

Sabbath Obedience Test

The raining of bread from heaven sustained by miracle the validity of the seventh-day Sabbath, which had been hallowed and sanctified at creation in Eden before Sinai, was upheld by the manna provision given shortly before reaching Sinai, and was then proclaimed in the heart of the Decalogue in the giving of the commandments on Mount Sinai. The daily provision continually testified to the Sabbath commandment already given in Eden before it was spoken at Sinai, testing whether the people would obey the law by gathering a set amount each day. When they clamored for meat, flesh was granted for one day to gratify desire and then withheld again because it was not the best food, and their later complaints questioned divine wisdom to know what was needed in the wilderness.

After deliverance from Egypt, where taskmasters had forced labor on the Sabbath by increasing the weekly work, bread was rained from heaven to bring the Sabbath prominently before the people and to prove whether they would walk in the law in a place where they could observe unmolested all the precepts. Through nearly forty years of wandering the appointed rest day was constantly kept before them by withholding manna every seventh day and by miraculously preserving the double portion that fell on the preparation day. The bread sent from heaven was among the marked events of the deliverance from bondage and oppression never to be forgotten, given that they might serve God and keep His Sabbaths, with parents to preserve its memory together with the water provided from the rock and to tell these events to children when they asked about the memorials.

The daily gathering of a measured amount was a test of obedience, and the special sixth-day gathering of twice the usual amount preserved the Sabbath law during the forty years in the wilderness. The threefold Sabbath miracle — a double portion on the sixth day, none on the seventh, and food kept fresh through the Sabbath — was designed to impress the sacredness of the Sabbath and allow it to be kept sacred. The daily miracle, including enough falling on the sixth day for the Sabbath, continually testified to the Sabbath commandment while showing abundant care and love. Yet the people soon forgot their promise to trust and failed their next test when they had no water.

The test of obedience to the law centered on keeping the Sabbath holy by preparing the heaven-sent bread beforehand, doing all baking and boiling on Friday the preparation day so the Sabbath could be kept as rest and spiritual devotion. That direction was given for spiritual interest and still applies, so careless inattention to keeping the Sabbath is displeasing to God.

Diet Reform and Appetite

The bread rained from heaven was healthful food designed by God to be eaten freely, best suited to train Israel for His purpose and make them a people through whom He could bless and teach the world. It was given for their physical, mental, and moral good and reflected His original plan to bring them back to simple fruits, vegetables, and grains. Rather than working a miracle to supply the meat they had eaten in Egypt, He fed them with bread from heaven instead of the flesh they desired.

Flesh meat was withheld in great measure without being fully prohibited, because it was not essential for health, was not the best food for them, and its influence on the human system was harmful as Creator and Redeemer understood. When they clamored for meat He also provided flesh for one day to gratify their lustful appetite, then withheld it again. That grant of animal food was only for a short time, and the restriction was never willingly accepted but remained a source of open or hidden discontent, so it was not made permanent.

The people were not satisfied with God's food but murmured against Moses and against God, despised what was provided, longed for Egypt's flesh-pots, and at times preferred slavery and even death rather than be deprived of meat. Their dissatisfaction and craving showed appetite ruling them rather than trust and obedience, preferring appetite to obedience to God. When in anger He granted their desire, their gluttony and excess in eating brought plague, disease, and death to thousands, with the curse coming while the meat was yet between their teeth.

The change from the food habits acquired in Egypt to simple manna was a test of appetite judged necessary for well-being and character, testing their moral strength through control of appetite. Unless appetite could be governed they could not be governed by law, and their failure through murmuring and yielding became part of their disobedience in the wilderness. Those who let appetite rule them, like Adam and Eve when they desired forbidden fruit, were not walking in God's favor, and the same test of self-control applies to professed Christians.

God deliberately led Israel out of Egyptian bondage into the wilderness where a flesh diet could not be obtained, guiding them forty years to make them a separate people and to educate, discipline, and reform their habits of eating. Christ Himself was their leader and teacher by pillar of cloud and fire, preserving by miracles with pure water from the rock when thirsty and manna, angels' food, when hungry, as unmistakable evidence of divine leading and protection. If they obeyed Him in all things He promised to put no disease upon them but to carry them into Canaan and establish them there as a pure, holy, happy people with not one feeble person among their tribes, taking away all sickness so their appearance would bear divine credentials. The same work is now to be repeated to bring His people back to the simple original diet, proving He is not leading toward meat eating and requiring an immediate change away from meat rather than accommodating appetite. After He gave a restricted diet of heaven-sent bread because He knew what was best, promising sure bread and water and removal of sickness to prove whether they would walk in His law, Israel rebelled against the restriction, loathed the bread, murmured for meat, and took their case into their own hands as though they knew better than God, and God let them have their desires with the result instead of health and happiness being dissension, sickness, and death, showing that choosing one's own way against light on diet brings suffering, sickness, and premature death because God will not be trifled with.

Dependence on Divine Care

The raining of bread day by day taught constant dependence on God for nourishment, trusting Him to abundantly supply need and building faith in His power to provide. Grace is bestowed daily for that day's need, with no promise of help to bear tomorrow's burdens today, but to be found fresh morning by morning for the pilgrim life. Temporal food was given to meet bodily necessity and to open the way for spiritual food, for care of body and soul belong together. Christ led Israel in the cloud, gave statutes and laws, expected obedience, and expected the sharing of blessing with those less favored, and He deals with His chosen people in the same way today.

The abundant provision was a token of willingness to help when sought, showing that He was not trying to harm His people or make them suffer. It manifested care and love, with daily food and also water and protection given as continuing miraculous mercy. The giving of manna stands as an example of the Lord working for the benefit of His people.

Christ Himself was Israel's invisible leader and teacher, enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, preserving by miracles and making known God's will. He defended them against Pharaoh's vast army, quieted their murmurings when hungry by providing food, and gave springs of cool pure water flowing from the rock when thirsty. The gift of manna, angels' food, came during forty years of guidance after deliverance from Egyptian bondage and temptation, to make them a separate people and reform habits of eating, giving unmistakable evidence that divine power led and protected them. That history teaches those in the last days who separate from all idolatry to free themselves from hindrances that confuse mind and conscience and lead into sin. The manna sustained their lives each day, and it also points to God's gift of His Son, the bread of life through whom eternal life may be received. Yet the people were ever ready to turn away and believe suggestions against Moses and Aaron and Joshua and Caleb, and by such rebellion against great light and precious opportunities they were passing the boundary of forbearance and patience and awakening anger to smite and disinherit them.

That same watchful care of One who never slumbers nor sleeps watched over His beloved Son, providing in a heathen land a refuge for Mary and the child Jesus. The valuable gifts brought by the wise men from a heathen country supplied means for the journey into Egypt and the sojourn in a strange land, sustaining Joseph, Mary, and Jesus and preserving the infant's life from Herod when no other source existed. The same divine power that supplied bread and flowing water in the wilderness can multiply a small amount of food until it is sufficient for many. It was repeated when thousands were fed from five barley loaves and two small fishes, and as all in the multitude shared its benefit the miracle appealed to everyone, proving Jesus divine as He whom Moses foretold and leading them to confess that He is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

The sending of bread stands among wonderful works that displayed His power as the only true and living God before the idolatrous nations around Canaan, who were familiar with it. Together with bringing Israel from Egypt, judgments on the Egyptians, opening the Red Sea and destroying Pharaoh's host, bringing pure water from the rock, and punishing the rebellious in Israel, it gave those nations sufficient evidence of the truth. That evidence showed long-suffering, great kindness, and tender pity even toward idolatrous nations, leaving them as free moral agents to turn from idolatry and licentiousness to serve the living and true God or to spurn and reject the light.

Christ and Spiritual Bread

The manna that kept Israel alive in the wilderness was a figure of the true bread from heaven, God's gift of His Son who comes down to give life to the world. Christ Himself led the Hebrews and fed them day by day to preserve their physical lives, for Moses did not give that bread, and the continuing miracle that supplied their bodily need was then used to teach that God also gives the living bread that gives eternal life. By believing and spiritually uniting with Him and eating the Bread of life, people become immortal, satisfied in heart, strengthened in moral powers, and vitalized by His Spirit. Israel remained dependent on God for temporal food and spiritual blessing, for the manna pointed to Christ, the living bread come down from heaven who is ever in God's presence for them, whose words give life. As God fed Israel with bread from heaven after freeing them from Egypt, so He feeds His people now through Jesus Christ after freeing them from spiritual bondage, and they are to keep continually feasting on this heavenly manna as temporal and spiritual blessing calling for continual praise, with Christ formed within as a well springing up to everlasting life.

The manna illustrates that God's words are food for the soul, to be received for spiritual strength and eternal life. The Bread from heaven is the Word of God, the true manna spoken by Christ in both the Old and New Testaments. Teachings called science that are merely human inventions are adulterated food, not the true manna. The heavenly manna is the sacred Word given to be brought to the lips and fed upon, yet those whose hearts are not united to the truth fail to feed on it, and though habituated to handling divine interests and able to speak the most pointed truth, the sacred has no more virtue to them than the common, so they do many things deceitfully because they do not love and practice its principles.

Gathering a certain rate every day means each person is to gather fresh spiritual nourishment from God's Word in due season, daily receiving from the heavenly table and feeding on the Word of Life morning and evening. This is done by earnestly and continuously seeking divine enlightenment through prayer and the means of grace, praying more, attending meetings and seeking God, putting every power to work and putting business cares second. Feeding earnestly every day brings growth in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ even to the full stature of men and women in Christ, gives spiritual strength and the wisdom unto salvation that only God can bestow, and becomes an uplifting power flowing into the heart from Jesus Christ as a current of spiritual influence from above. Precious truths are thus stored for present and future emergency, and believers refuse to settle content with past blessing but love and serve God with whole soul, might, mind and strength, blessing those around them, leading them to the light of the Word, working for the salvation of others as Christ worked for theirs, revealing the spirit and power of the truth in word and action and living as obedient children in pure and holy lives. Bringing Christ into the life cures envy, evil surmising against brethren and self-sufficient spirit, makes felt weakness, ignorance, great need of Him and true inward corruption, and gives pure cleansing power that refines and fits for the mansions of the blessed, while ministers are to serve this fresh manna in a way that does not exhaust themselves or overwhelm those listening.

God still rains fresh manna from heaven for the present time, which is Christ lifted up before the people — His character, His words, His work, the very message for this time of Christ in them the hope of glory taught by Paul and by Christ Himself. This fresh supply of Bible truth must be gathered every day from the living fountain of the waters of life, and the teacher of truth must daily renew acquaintance with it, filling the mind with its precious principles and refusing to feed on chaff in weak, trashy, worthless reading, in order to present ideas that are forcible and uplifting and instruction suited to need. Ministers must eat that fresh provision themselves and give it to the hungry flock through human agents molded by the Holy Spirit, rather than living on old set discourses, repeating dry theories, and giving only what they choose to eat. Dry theories are not this manna, and without being strengthened by this daily manna the people are ready to die; it must not be treated as strange doctrine to be cautioned against and not received hastily. When the fresh manna offered by God is refused, labor lacks the quickening, life-giving power of the Spirit, is not full of marrow and fatness, does not widen out with power and spirit, and the people do not receive the education and instruction that is their right for the present time.

Heaven-sent bread reaches the people through chosen human messengers who feed them with truth. Those messengers remain fallible men who can make mistakes and must be corrected by God. Therefore safety is in looking to God and not putting trust in men, and the messenger must never be exalted above the message.

Testing and Provision Today

As God proved Israel of old by the daily gathering to see whether they would walk in His law, so after Jesus opened the door of the Most Holy and the light of the Sabbath was seen the people of God are to be tested and proved on keeping His law. The third angel points the disappointed ones upward to the Holiest of the heavenly sanctuary, where they follow Jesus by faith. There they review the proclamation of the second advent down to the passing of the time in 1844, have their disappointment explained, and learn that God has led them by His mysterious providence with renewed joy and hope.

Sabbath-keepers are likewise proved now as Israel was proved by the withholding of what they had enjoyed in Egypt. The choice between God's service and the world's fashions and pleasures reveals whether they value His service and the freedom He has given above former indulgences. The wilderness sustenance stands as the example of how God can supply His people's needs in the time of trouble. When they have no food of their own and must trust wholly in Him, their bread and water will be sure and they will not lack or hunger.

The same God who rained bread from heaven still lives and reigns, guides His people, and blesses their work with skill, understanding, wisdom, and success. What that manna was to the children of Israel, His light on the food question is to His people today, to be gathered up and prepared to be eaten. He gives His people in different places skill and wisdom to use the productions of their own countries in preparing foods that will take the place of meat. The food treasures of each different country are to be prepared in a way suited for use in that country so they can be made locally and affordably without costly transport. Those whose desire is to glorify Him receive light and knowledge with skill and wisdom to make wholesome, palatable foods, including the starting of hygienic restaurants in the cities. He will give His people today knowledge of how to provide food in a simple, inexpensive manner from fruits and grains, so that those who cannot obtain expensive preparations need not live on an impoverished diet, and teaching simplicity in living without flesh meats is part of the diet reform to be imparted. This work begins for families and then reaches the poor, is not to be monopolized by few minds, and provides nourishing substitutes suited to each land.

God once rained bread from heaven to prove whether His people would walk in His law, and once sent ravens to bring food, but He does not now care by such miracles from heaven for widows and fatherless left in trust by fathers who died in faith, nor for orphans and the homeless. He provides for these bereaved ones by working a miracle upon human hearts, expelling selfishness from the soul and unsealing benevolence. He commits the afflicted and bereaved, the poor and the orphan, to the tender mercies of His professed followers. The proving of the daily gathering continues as a test of love, shown when selfishness is overcome and Christlike love cares for the fatherless and widows.

The abundant provision showed His care and love, with the threefold Sabbath miracle of a double portion on the sixth day, none on the seventh, and food kept fresh through the Sabbath designed to impress the Sabbath's sacredness. Yet the people soon forgot their promise to trust Him and failed their next test when they had no water. Though the Lord fed Israel with bread from heaven, the people later murmured against Him. That account of murmuring against Moses in adverse circumstances warns against complaining against the person carrying the most responsible and heaviest burden in God's work.