Exodus
16:4
The manna was a test. Of course, it was a mercy as well. God had led the Israelites into the wilderness of Sinai, a dangerous and desolate place of rocky hills and almost no vegetation. There was no food to be had at all. They had no idea where they were headed. They had only brought what they could gather in a night and carry on their backs. And here in the desert, God was faithful to His promises, and sent them a mysterious food that supplied what they really needed.
But it was a
test. Because every morning the manna
came with the dew, with twice as much on Fridays so they could rest on the
Sabbath. There was no need to work for
it and when kept overnight, it rotted in the pail. So the Israelites had to trust God that He
would send more of it the next day. They
had to rely on His promise that it was enough to keep them in good health and
full strength. They had to be patient
with the lack of variety.
