Exodus 16:14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.
This passage of scripture describes for us the direct interposition of God in behalf of His people, by sending them manna every day for forty years. After the children of Israel came out of Egypt, it was the will of God that a different and more healthy diet be supplied them so that they could cooperate with Him in renewing and sustaining their health. The giving and the consumption of manna by the Hebrews contains very practical lessons for us, even in our day, for there are valid reasons why God saw it fit to have the whole experience chronicled for later generations.
One of the vital lessons we learn is that we are totally dependent on God, whether we know and acknowledge it or not, for He is the one who sends us the sun, therain, and all of the other natural agencies and elements needed for seed to grow and grass to sprout, so that both man and beast may eat freely of the bounties of the earth. This fundamental fact is stated several times in the scriptures with the hope that we may know and acknowledge that there is a God in the heavens, who is proactively involved in our day to day existence. Let's read:
Psalms 104:Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
Psalms 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Another lesson we learn from the giving of manna is that The Lord does not encourage slothfulness, for it is His will that the necessities of life be obtained and attended to with dispatch and due diligence. That's why He did not allow the manna to remain on the ground all day, for then those who are inclined to remain in bed long after the working day has begun, would be encouraged to do so, for they would then take it for granted that their necessary food could be obtained at their own convenience. This would then give the wrong impression that God is obliged to go along with an agenda of indolence, an attitude that He has specifically spoken against in the scriptures. Let's read:
Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Another lesson from the giving of manna that is of critical importance to our health, is that of eating only that which is sufficient for our daily needs. One Omer for each person is what was allotted, so that the problem of overindulgence in food would not take its toll on the health of the people. Let's read:
Exodus 16:16 This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. 17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. 18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
One of the problems we face right here in America, is that of chronic obesity, which starts from childhood and continues on into the adult years. The Bible teaches us the principle of being temperate in all things, including the eating of food, which means that we are to partake sufficiently of that which is healthful and wholesome, and to discard entirely of that which is injurious to our well-being. This mandate will include many of the favorite items we often place in our grocery carts which includes Twinkies, rich Chocolates, coffee, alcoholic beverages, and the many different kinds of meat and sea-food products that are forbidden in the Bible, like Sushi, oysters, shrimp, and rare steak.
If as a nation we were to follow the guidelines given in the scriptures for the rational use of healthy foods in reasonable quantities, our national debt would be reduced by trillions of dollars, and we would individually be benefited, by enjoying good health and length of days. It is not the will of God that we should spend a considerable portion of our income in treating diseases that can be easily avoided if we were to implement the lessons gleaned from the giving and consumption of the manna, for the Bible teaches us that God wants us to prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture that calls for a renewal of the disposition to seek God, not only for our temporal food and necessities of life, but also for the wisdom and discretion needed in the use thereof. Let's read:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
May the many lessons from God's providence in the giving of manna, resonate with us personally, for they were written for our admonition and instruction. God bless!