WHAT IS IT?

Manna is one of my favorite themes in the Bible. So, what is Manna? “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain down bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.” (Exodus 16:4)

Manna means, ‘What is it?’ in the original language. It was food for the Israelites in the Wilderness. Manna was white and tasted like wafers with honey it was described as being like coriander seeds. (Exodus 16:31) They made it into cakes, boiled it, and ground it into flour. The instructions for collecting Manna were simple: Collect an omer (about two quarts) of manna per person. Don’t keep any leftovers, or the manna will breed worms and stink. The Sabbath is the only exception. Gather double on the sixth day, and it will last overnight, since there is no work on the seventh day.

God provided manna for 40 years when the Israelites were in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:35) The manna stopped as soon as they entered the Promised Land.
On the Passover night before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, the Israelites ate produce from their new home. (Joshua 5:12) Manna represents God’s faithful provision and care for his people. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to himself as the “bread of life,” drawing a parallel between manna and his own role as spiritual sustenance and provision. Manna is ‘bread from heaven.’

“Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.” “I am the bread of life, no one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.” Jesus