Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, manna is a miraculous provision from God, serving as sustenance for the Israelites during their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness following their exodus from Egypt. This heavenly bread is a profound symbol of God's providence and care for His people, illustrating His ability to meet their needs in seemingly impossible circumstances.Biblical Account: The account of manna is primarily found in the Book of Exodus. As the Israelites journeyed through the desert, they faced the harsh reality of scarcity and hunger. In response to their needs, God promised to rain down bread from heaven. Exodus 16:4 states, "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.'" The manna appeared each morning, described as a fine, flake-like substance, resembling frost on the ground. The Israelites were instructed to gather only what was needed for each day, emphasizing reliance on God's daily provision. On the sixth day, they were to gather a double portion to prepare for the Sabbath, a day of rest. Characteristics of Manna: Manna is described in Exodus 16:31 as being "white like coriander seed and tasting like wafers made with honey." Numbers 11:7-8 further elaborates, "Now the manna resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of gum resin. The people walked around gathering it, and they ground it on a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes, and it tasted like the flavor of fresh oil." Spiritual Significance: Manna holds deep spiritual significance, symbolizing God's faithfulness and the importance of trusting in His provision. It serves as a reminder of the Israelites' dependence on God and His ability to sustain them in the wilderness. The daily gathering of manna also taught the Israelites discipline and obedience, as they were to collect only what was needed and trust that God would provide again the next day. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to Himself as the "bread of life," drawing a parallel between the manna in the wilderness and His own role as the spiritual sustenance for believers. In John 6:32-35 , Jesus declares, "Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world... I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst." Conclusion: The provision of manna in the wilderness is a testament to God's unwavering care and provision for His people. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of faith, obedience, and reliance on God for both physical and spiritual nourishment. Through the lens of manna, believers are encouraged to trust in God's daily provision and to seek the true bread of life found in Jesus Christ. Torrey's Topical Textbook Numbers 11:8And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Jesus the Bread of Life. The Manna The Bread of God And in the Fourth Watch of the Night Jesus came unto Them... The Holy Communion. John vi. 28-30 Bread and Gravel Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness. Discourse on Spiritual Food and True Discipleship. Peter's ... John vi. 41, 42 Resources What is the meaning of “Cast your bread upon the waters” in Ecclesiastes 11:1? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of unleavened bread? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean to pray for our daily bread? | GotQuestions.org Bread: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Bread in Times of Scarcity, Sold by Weight Bread was Baked: On Coals of Fire Bread with Water, the Food of Prisons Bread: (Eating Without Scarceness) of Plenty Bread: (Fulness of) of Abundance Bread: (Of Adversity) Heavy Affliction Bread: (Of Deceit) Unlawful Gain Bread: (Of Wickedness) Oppression Bread: (Partaking of) Communion of Saints Bread: (Seeking of Begging) Extreme Poverty Bread: (Want of) Extreme Poverty Bread: (When Broken) the Death of Christ Bread: Called the Staff of Life Bread: Crumb of, Used to Wipe the Fingers, Thrown Under the Table Bread: First Fruit of, offered to God Bread: How Prepared: Baked in Ovens Bread: How Prepared: Cracknels Bread: How Prepared: Made Into Loaves Bread: How Prepared: Mixed With Oil Bread: How Prepared: On Coals of Dung Bread: How Prepared: On Hearths Bread: Kinds of Bread of Affliction Bread: Kinds of Leavened (Made With Yeast) Bread: Kinds of Unleavened (Made Without Yeast) Bread: Made of Manna (In the Wilderness) Bread: Multitudes Miraculously Fed by Christ With Bread: Nutritious and Strengthening Bread: Offered With Sacrifices Bread: Often Given As a Present Bread: Often Put for the Whole Substance of Man Bread: Ordinary, Called Common Bread Bread: Placed on Table of Shew Bread Bread: Plenty of, Promised to the Obedient Bread: Sacred, Called Hallowed Bread Bread: Scarceness of, Sent As a Punishment Bread: Served Round After Funerals Bread: Symbolical of the Body of Christ Bread: The Principal Food Used by the Ancients Bread: Troughs Used for Kneading Bread: when Old, Dry and Mouldy Related Terms |
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