Manna in the Wilderness

On the Way to Canaan

In Exodus 16, the Israelites set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin (a.k.a. Wilderness of Sin), between Elim and Sinai. The "Sin" here does not have the same meaning of the English term "sin," but of a semitic "god of the moon" who was worshiped in ancient times.

The community grumbled to Moses and Aaron because of their lack of food, especially meat, which they had even when they were in slavery in Egypt. The Lord explained to Moses that He would rain down bread from heaven for the people. Their instructions were to gather it daily for 6 days, but on the 6th day to gather twice as much so they could eat leftover manna on the 7th day, a "sabbath" day.

On the way to the Promised Land

When they continued to complain, Moses and Aaron explained that the Lord hears their grumbling, and it is not to them that they are complaining, but to the Lord God.

The Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” (Ex. 16:11-12)

They were supposed to only keep what they could eat (one omer, which is 1/10 of an ephah) because in the morning it would spoil. Some of them disobeyed, and the food would stink or get maggots in it.

In the mornings, they all gathered as much manna as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, the manna melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them,

“This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’” 

So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it.

“Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”

Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” So the people rested on the seventh day.

The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’” (Ex. 16:21-32)

The Israelites continued to eat manna for 40 years, until they came to the border of Canaan. It is believed that the preserved omer of manna was kept in the Ark of the Covenant for many generations, but it was not there in the time of King Solomon (1 Kings 8:9). 

Water From the Rock

The trial of eating manna in the wilderness was a form of testing for the Israelites. They were supposed to obey the instructions of Moses and Aaron and in doing so, they were obeying God. 

After they traveled from place to place through the Desert of Sin, they camped at Rephidim (see map above), but there was no water for the people to drink (Ex. 17:1). Again, they quarreled with Moses, who replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.”

"Water From the Rock" Stained Glass Window

So Moses did this in front of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah (“testing”) and Meribah (“quarreling”) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

My observation here is that God was trying to teach the Israelites (and really all of us, today) of God's enduring presence (along the journey in the desert), God's provision (manna, quail, water--food), and God's protection (during the battle with the Amalekites). 

In Exodus 17:8-15, the Israelites were attacked at Rephidim by the Amalekites. Moses ordered Joshua to fight them with the sword. As long as Moses could raise his staff and hold it up, they were winning. When he got tired, Aaron and Hur held his hands up for him, one on each side, until sunset.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 

Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

I'm looking for an inspiring visual of "The Lord is My Banner," but so far, I have these!