Manna, often described as "like hoar frost," 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 element of God's care and provision for His people during a time of need.

Biblical Description and Characteristics

The term "manna" is derived from the Hebrew word "man hu," which translates to "What is it?" This reflects the Israelites' initial reaction upon encountering this unfamiliar substance. In Exodus 16:14, the Berean Standard Bible describes manna as follows: "When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground." This description highlights its delicate and frost-like appearance, emphasizing its miraculous and otherworldly nature.

Manna is further described in Exodus 16:31 : "Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey." This passage provides insight into its appearance and taste, likening it to coriander seed in color and honey wafers in flavor, suggesting a pleasant and nourishing quality.

Divine Provision and Instructions

Manna served as a daily reminder of God's provision and faithfulness. The Israelites were instructed to gather it each morning, with specific guidelines to collect only what was needed for each day, except on the sixth day when they were to gather a double portion in preparation for the Sabbath (Exodus 16:4-5). This instruction was a test of obedience and trust in God's provision, as any excess kept overnight would spoil, except on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:19-24).

Symbolism and Significance

Manna holds deep symbolic significance within the biblical narrative. It represents God's sustenance and care, teaching the Israelites reliance on Him for their daily needs. In Deuteronomy 8:3 , Moses reflects on this lesson: "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

In the New Testament, manna is also seen as a foreshadowing of Christ, the true "bread from heaven." In John 6:31-35 , Jesus draws a parallel between Himself and manna, stating, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst." This connection underscores the spiritual nourishment and eternal life offered through faith in Christ.

Preservation and Memorial

To commemorate God's provision, a portion of manna was preserved in a golden jar and placed in the Ark of the Covenant as a testimony for future generations (Exodus 16:32-34; Hebrews 9:4). This act served as a lasting reminder of God's faithfulness and the miraculous sustenance He provided during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness.

Manna, described as "like hoar frost," remains a powerful symbol of divine provision, obedience, and the sustaining word of God, resonating throughout the biblical narrative and into the teachings of the New Testament.Exodus 16:14
And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, on the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Then Moses, Exulting in the Safety of his Own People...
... in the winter months covered with the hoar-frost that has ... for forty years; its taste
was very like that of honey; and its name is handed down as being manna. ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xvi then moses exulting.htm

"As Thy Days, So Shall Thy Strength Be"
... Much of God's marvellous miracles of hoar frost must have been hidden from us, if
it had not been for the cold ... It would be like the manna the children of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/as thy days so shall.htm

Psalm LXXVIII.
... to bread celestial, [3597] nor with visible manna, and those ... The hoar-frost doth
signify the fault wherein the love ... by the darkness of foolishness, like as it ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxviii.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... Their chiefs were accustomed, like their neighbours, to use, for correspondence
with other countries, the cuneiform mode of writing; they had among them ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

A Canticle of Love
... Few have hungered for the Bread of Angels like this seraph of earth. ... after nights
of intolerable pain, she rose at early morn to partake of the Manna of Heaven ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/martin/the story of a soul/chapter xi a canticle of.htm

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