Manna: He That Gathered Much or Little had Sufficient and Nothing
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Manna, often referred to as "bread from heaven," is a miraculous provision from God to the Israelites during their 40-year journey in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. This divine sustenance is first introduced in the Book of Exodus and is a central symbol of God's providence and care for His people.

Biblical Account

The account of manna is primarily found in Exodus 16. The Israelites, having left Egypt, found themselves in the Desert of Sin, where they began to grumble against Moses and Aaron due to the lack of food. In response, God promised to rain down bread from heaven for them. Each morning, the Israelites found a fine, flake-like substance on the ground, which they called "manna." The name "manna" is derived from the Hebrew phrase "man hu," meaning "What is it?" as the Israelites questioned its nature upon first seeing it (Exodus 16:15).

Divine Instructions and Provision

God provided specific instructions regarding the collection of manna. Each person was to gather an omer per person, according to the number of people in their tent. The miraculous nature of manna is highlighted in Exodus 16:18 : "When they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall. Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat." This verse underscores the sufficiency of God's provision, ensuring that every individual had exactly what they needed, regardless of the amount they initially gathered.

The Israelites were instructed to gather manna daily, except on the Sabbath. On the sixth day, they were to collect a double portion, as no manna would appear on the seventh day, the Sabbath, which was to be a day of rest. This command tested the Israelites' obedience and trust in God's provision.

Symbolism and Significance

Manna serves as a profound symbol of God's faithfulness and the importance of reliance on Him for daily sustenance. It teaches the principle of contentment and trust in divine provision, as each person received precisely what was necessary for their needs. The daily gathering of manna also emphasized the need for continual dependence on God, rather than hoarding or relying on one's own efforts.

In the New Testament, Jesus refers to manna in John 6:31-35, drawing a parallel between the manna provided to the Israelites and Himself as the "true bread from heaven." Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst" (John 6:35). This connection highlights the spiritual sustenance and eternal life offered through faith in Christ.

Preservation and Memorial

To commemorate God's provision, Moses instructed Aaron to place an omer of manna in a jar and keep it before the LORD as a testimony for future generations (Exodus 16:32-34). This jar of manna was later placed in the Ark of the Covenant, serving as a lasting reminder of God's faithfulness and the miraculous sustenance He provided during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness.

Manna remains a powerful testament to God's provision, teaching believers about reliance on divine grace and the sufficiency found in God's care.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

'The Matter of a Day in Its Day'
... The manna fell morning by morning. 'He that gathered much had nothing over, he that
gathered little had no lack.' So all the variety of our changeful ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the matter of a day.htm

Ephesians vi. 14
... it, as was the case with the manna, but that ... For "he," it is said, "who gathered
much had nothing over." For this ... For what He intended in after-times to deliver ...
/.../homily xxiii ephesians vi 14.htm

How Moses when He had Brought the People Out of Egypt Led
... However, these strong men, when they had gathered more than the ... Now the Hebrews call
this food manna: for the ... turned their anger against Moses; but he at first ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how moses when.htm

A Continuation of Mr Bunyan's Life; Beginning Where He Left Off ...
... remedy was now highly necessary: hereupon he gathered his congregation ... pantings and
breathings after the hidden manna and water ... He died at the house of one Mr ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/a continuation of mr bunyans.htm

A Continuation of Mr. Bunyan's Life, Beginning Where He Left Off ...
... Hereupon, he gathered his congregation at Bedford, where he mostly ... and breathings
after the hidden manna, and water ... be here inserted at present.[22] He died at ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a continuation of mr bunyans.htm

Counsels and Reminiscences of Soeur Therese, the Little Flower of ...
... lift high your head, so that the Manna of the ... Well, He will render unto me according
to His own ... It had been gathered by Mother Hermance, and was accompanied by ...
/.../therese/story of a soul/counsels and reminiscences of soeur.htm

The Duty of Every Day
... The manna fell every day, and was gathered and consumed on ... The manna lay all around
the tent, but each man ... He gives us each sufficient strength to do His will ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the duty of every day.htm

A Little Sanctuary
... That may be gathered from the other rendering of my text. ... he has a throne of grace,
and there he meets us ... Christ which always buds; the pot of manna, the emblem ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/a little sanctuary.htm

1 Cor. xiii. 8
... and by other such devices, great wealth is gathered by many ... For these are they who
say, "Can He give bread ... Our fathers did eat manna in the desert:"whose God ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxxiv 1 cor xiii.htm

Providence
... However, when I arrived, I found from 5000 to 6000 people gathered together to ... to
live from hand to mouth, when day by day the manna falls, he begins to ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/providence.htm

Resources
What was inside the ark of the covenant? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He said we must eat His flesh and drink His blood? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Catholic sacrament of Holy Eucharist? | GotQuestions.org

Manna: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Manna

Manna: A Golden Pot of, Laid up in the Holiest for a Memorial

Manna: An Omer of, Gathered for Each Person

Manna: Blessedness Given to Saints

Manna: Called: Angel's Food

Manna: Called: Bread from Heaven

Manna: Called: Bread of Heaven

Manna: Called: Corn of Heaven

Manna: Called: God's Manna

Manna: Called: Spiritual Meat

Manna: Ceased when Israel Entered Canaan

Manna: Christ

Manna: Fell After the Evening Dew

Manna: Figurative

Manna: Gathered Every Morning

Manna: General Scriptures Concerning

Manna: Given for Forty Years

Manna: Given in Answer to Prayer

Manna: Given: As a Sign of Moses's Divine Mission

Manna: Given: As a Test of Obedience

Manna: Given: Through Moses

Manna: Given: To Exhibit God's Glory

Manna: Given: To Humble and Prove Israel

Manna: Given: To Teach That Man Does not Live by Bread Only

Manna: Given: when Israel Murmured for Bread

Manna: He That Gathered Much or Little had Sufficient and Nothing

Manna: Kept Longer than a Day (Except on the Sabbath) Became Corrupt

Manna: Like Coriander Seed

Manna: Like Hoar Frost

Manna: Like in Colour to Bdellium

Manna: Like in Taste to Oil

Manna: Like in Taste to Wafers Made With Honey

Manna: Melted Away by the Sun

Manna: Miraculously Given to Israel for Food in the Wilderness

Manna: None Fell on the Sabbath Day

Manna: Preserved in the Ark of the Testimony

Manna: Previously Unknown

Manna: The Israelites: At First Covetous of

Manna: The Israelites: Counted Inferior to Food of Egypt

Manna: The Israelites: Ground, Made Into Cakes and Baked in Pans

Manna: The Israelites: Loathed

Manna: The Israelites: Punished for Despising

Manna: The Israelites: Punished for Loathing

Manna: Two Portions of, Gathered the Sixth Day on Account of The

Manna: White

Related Terms

Coriander (2 Occurrences)

Fathers (572 Occurrences)

Bdellium (2 Occurrences)

Pot (46 Occurrences)

Ate (138 Occurrences)

Settled (112 Occurrences)

Cease (138 Occurrences)

Inhabited (64 Occurrences)

Frost (9 Occurrences)

Forefathers (135 Occurrences)

Extremity (46 Occurrences)

Mortar (16 Occurrences)

Capernaum (16 Occurrences)

Coriander-seed (2 Occurrences)

Died (348 Occurrences)

Habitable (19 Occurrences)

Fed (62 Occurrences)

Jar (45 Occurrences)

Border (233 Occurrences)

Borders (104 Occurrences)

Sabbath (126 Occurrences)

Ceased (80 Occurrences)

Wilderness (304 Occurrences)

Desert (322 Occurrences)

Dew (35 Occurrences)

Forty (142 Occurrences)

Produce (140 Occurrences)

Yield (78 Occurrences)

Waste (668 Occurrences)

Eaten (211 Occurrences)

Stopped (134 Occurrences)

Eat (690 Occurrences)

Corn (107 Occurrences)

Eating (151 Occurrences)

Reached (152 Occurrences)

Pride (277 Occurrences)

Causing (248 Occurrences)

Morrow (113 Occurrences)

Backslide

Vase (3 Occurrences)

Knewest (11 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Urn (1 Occurrence)

Overcometh (12 Occurrences)

Omer-full (2 Occurrences)

Overcoming (14 Occurrences)

Overcomes (21 Occurrences)

Omerful (2 Occurrences)

Omer (5 Occurrences)

Overlaid (50 Occurrences)

Laws (184 Occurrences)

Lined (6 Occurrences)

Gilgal (39 Occurrences)

Gold-covered (1 Occurrence)

Wasted (106 Occurrences)

Worm (22 Occurrences)

Wist (13 Occurrences)

Wafers (6 Occurrences)

Withheldest (1 Occurrence)

Withheld (32 Occurrences)

Withhold (32 Occurrences)

Instruct (34 Occurrences)

Forever (426 Occurrences)

Fresh (41 Occurrences)

Feeds (14 Occurrences)

Food (2953 Occurrences)

Four (3139 Occurrences)

Tables (41 Occurrences)

Tabernacle (333 Occurrences)

Tasted (18 Occurrences)

Tamarisk (5 Occurrences)

Rained (11 Occurrences)

Raineth (5 Occurrences)

Resin (4 Occurrences)

Excepted (2 Occurrences)

Eats (57 Occurrences)

Eateth (81 Occurrences)

Manna: Given: when Israel Murmured for Bread
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