Topical Bible: Manna: The Israelites: At First Covetous of

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Manna, the miraculous sustenance provided by God to the Israelites during their wilderness journey, is a significant element in the narrative of the Exodus. This heavenly bread is first introduced in Exodus 16, where it is described as a divine provision to meet the physical needs of the Israelites after their departure from Egypt. Despite its miraculous nature, the initial reaction of the Israelites to manna reveals a complex interplay of gratitude and covetousness.

Upon their arrival in the wilderness of Sin, the Israelites faced a dire shortage of food, which led them to grumble against Moses and Aaron. In response, God promised to "rain down bread from heaven" (Exodus 16:4) to test whether they would follow His instructions. The manna appeared each morning, described as "fine flakes like frost on the ground" (Exodus 16:14), and the people were instructed to gather only as much as they needed for each day.

Despite this clear directive, the Israelites initially displayed a covetous attitude towards the manna. Some attempted to gather more than their daily portion, driven by a lack of trust in God's provision. This disobedience resulted in the excess manna breeding worms and becoming foul (Exodus 16:20), illustrating the futility of their greed and the importance of reliance on God's daily provision.

The Israelites' covetousness is further highlighted in Numbers 11, where they express dissatisfaction with the manna, longing for the varied diet they had in Egypt. They lamented, "Who will feed us meat? We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic" (Numbers 11:4-5). This craving for the food of their past bondage reveals a deeper spiritual discontent and a failure to appreciate the miraculous nature of God's provision.

God's response to their complaints was to provide quail in abundance, but this was accompanied by a severe plague as a consequence of their ingratitude and covetousness (Numbers 11:31-34). This episode serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of covetousness and the importance of trusting in God's provision.

The narrative of manna in the wilderness underscores the Israelites' struggle with covetousness and their journey towards understanding and relying on God's faithfulness. It serves as a powerful lesson on the importance of contentment and trust in divine provision, themes that resonate throughout the biblical text.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 16:17
And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Third Sunday Before Lent
... had not the Word of God come first, the rock ... the rock as illustration, we may say
the Israelites partook of ... verse 58), "Not as the fathers ate [manna], and died ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/third sunday before lent.htm

Perseverance of Saints.
... The first one which I shall notice is found in ... typical meaning of these waters, and
this manna, and that ... the apostle affirm, that all the Israelites were real ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture li perseverance of saints.htm

The Saints' Rest is not to be Expected on Earth.
... rain down angel's food, we should soon loathe the manna. ... life, as he gave the murmuring
Israelites quails ... enter an untrodden path, nor appointed first to break ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter x the saints rest.htm

The Importance of Leading a Heavenly Life Upon Earth.
... inch: like our predecessors, the sinful Israelites, when God ... it is obtained; they
will take the first that comes ... in feeding on the hidden manna, and frequently ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter xi the importance of.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... times he had enriched himself"to the south in the first place, and ... the countries
of Nukhassi, Nii, Tunipa, and Zinzauru: they looked with covetous eyes upon ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

A Treatise to Prove that no one Can Harm the Man who Does not ...
... And first of all, if you please, let us investigate the ... For such was the nature of
the manna; it was new and ... the nature of sea; and to the Israelites indeed it ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/a treatise to prove that.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... by some, [546]124; shown from history of the Israelites, [547]133 ... Man, first and
second, why those expressions used, [1086]255; men made to ... Manna, the, [1096]361 ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

part ii
... "Thou hypocrite, first cast out ... your neighbour, ever believing, trusting, meek, gentle,
wishing well to everybody, just, not covetous, compassionate, merciful ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
... best of you all, but yet, even then, 'he blesseth the covetous, whom the ... But for
the first: ... round about with gold, the golden pot that had manna, Aaron's rod ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm