Manna teaches that God is faithful to provide for the daily needs of His people and that His provision requires trust and obedience. After Israel left Egypt, they faced hunger in the wilderness and complained against Moses and Aaron. In response, God sent bread from heaven to sustain them.
Exodus 16:4 records God’s words:
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.’”
Manna was miraculous, appearing with the dew each morning and tasting like wafers made with honey (Exodus 16:14, 31). The people were to gather only enough for each day, except on the sixth day when they collected double for the Sabbath. Any attempt to store it overnight, apart from God’s command, resulted in spoilage (Exodus 16:19–20). This taught Israel to rely on God daily rather than hoard in fear.
Deuteronomy 8:3 explains the lesson:
“So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna… that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”
Manna not only provided physical sustenance but pointed to spiritual truth. Jesus declared:
“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger.” (John 6:35)
Thus, manna foreshadows Christ as the true sustainer of life. It reminds believers that God’s provision is sufficient, that His mercies are new every morning, and that trust in Him brings both physical and spiritual nourishment.
