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

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

Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Origin:
Manna is described in the Bible as the miraculous food provided by God to the Israelites during their 40-year journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. It is often referred to as "bread from heaven" and is a symbol of God's provision and care for His people.

Biblical Description:
Manna appeared each morning, except on the Sabbath, as a fine, flake-like substance on the ground after the dew evaporated. The Israelites were instructed to gather it daily, with a double portion on the sixth day to prepare for the Sabbath rest. The appearance of manna is described in Exodus 16:14-15: "When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes like frost on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, 'What is it?' For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, 'It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.'"

Preparation and Consumption:
The Israelites were instructed to gather an omer per person, and they could prepare it in various ways. Numbers 11:8 provides insight into its preparation: "The people walked around gathering it, and they ground it on a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes, and it tasted like something made with olive oil." This indicates that manna could be ground, made into cakes, and baked in pans, offering versatility in its preparation.

Characteristics and Taste:
Manna is described as having a taste like wafers made with honey (Exodus 16:31) and as something made with olive oil (Numbers 11:8). These descriptions suggest a pleasant and nourishing food, suitable for sustaining the Israelites throughout their journey.

Spiritual Significance:
Manna holds significant spiritual symbolism in the Bible. It represents God's faithful provision and serves as a reminder of His covenant with Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to Himself as the "true bread from heaven" (John 6:32), drawing a parallel between manna and His own role as the sustainer of spiritual life.

Duration of Provision:
The provision of manna lasted for the entire duration of the Israelites' wilderness journey, ceasing when they entered the Promised Land. Joshua 5:12 states, "The manna ceased the day after they ate the produce of the land, and there was no more manna for the Israelites. So that year they began to eat the crops of the land of Canaan."

Preservation as a Testimony:
A portion of manna was preserved as a testimony to future generations. Exodus 16:32-34 records God's command to keep an omer of manna in a jar before the Testimony, to be kept for future generations as a reminder of God's provision.

Manna remains a powerful symbol of divine sustenance and faithfulness, illustrating God's care for His people and His ability to provide for their needs in miraculous ways.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 11:8
And 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