I Will Rain Bread From Heaven for You

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. And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily” (Exodus 16:1-20).

When the Israelites left Egypt, they had some flocks and herds of their own, but they certainly did not have provisions to feed over two million people every day for the foreseeable future! Truly, God Himself was bound to provide for them, having called them out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1). Such divine provision was first promised when the people’s supplies were exhausted after about thirty days. Manna came early in the morning, every morning—except the Sabbath—and it had to be collected at once, before the sun became hot enough to melt the small round particles that looked like frost. So much was provided that when it came down it resembled rain!

Any attempt to lay aside extra for a succeeding day, except on the day immediately preceding the Sabbath, failed, because it became wormy and offensive. The manna could be ground in mills, beaten in mortars, and then baked or boiled. It tasted like fresh oil and wafers made with honey. It was available every day for forty years, until it suddenly ceased when they got the first “food of the land” of Canaan (Joshua 5:12). This heaven-sent, daily manna was later called “the bread of heaven,” and, “angels’ food” (Psalm 78:24-25), indeed it was “spiritual food” (1 Corinthians 10:3).

However, for all the wonder of that bread, there was something better to come. The Lord Jesus described Himself as, “the true bread from heaven.” This bread gives life not only to a single nation, but potentially to the whole world, (John 6:32-33).

The word “true” used by the Lord Jesus means that which is real, ideal and genuine. As well as being the true bread, the Lord Jesus is also the “true light” (John 1:9), “the true vine” (John 15:1), and the “true witness” (Revelation 3:14): indeed, He is “called . . . True” (Revelation 19:11; 1 John 5:20). It is He who promises the overcomer an extra portion of the knowledge of Himself, as eating “the hidden manna” (Revelation 2:17). Just as a memorial of the manna was kept in a golden pot inside the Ark of the Covenant (Hebrews 9:4), hidden from human sight beyond the veil of the tabernacle, so too, knowledge of the Lord Jesus in heaven is still available today to those with spiritual discernment.

Adapted and modified excerpts from Day by Day: Bible Promises
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.