SPECIAL TOPIC: MANNA

A. It was a supernatural provision by YHWH to sustain His
people during the exodus and wilderness wandering period.

B. It is called “the bread which the Lord has given you to
eat,” Exod. 16:15b (cf. Neh. 9:15; John 6:31,49,51,53,58). The popular name,
“manna” (Exod. 31:1) comes from the question about it, asked by the people in
Exod. 16:15a (i.e., “What is it?” from Hebrew “man hu,” BDB 577 and BDB 214).

C. It came with the dew every morning (cf. Exod. 16:13,21;
Num. 11:9), as the sun rose and burned off the dew (cf. Exod. 16:14), a layer of
white powder remained for a brief period, then the sun burned it all away (cf.
Exod. 16:21).

They were to gather it, every family, every day, enough
for all in the family to have enough to eat (cf. Exod. 16:16-18), but only
enough for one day at a time (cf. Exod. 16:20). There was a special provision
made to gather twice as much on Friday so that no work (i.e., gathering or
cooking, cf. Exod. 16:23) would be done on the Sabbath (cf. Exod. 16:5, i.e.,
Friday night at twilight until Saturday night at twilight). On this special day
the manna would remain edible for two days (cf. Exod. 16:22,24).

D. There was also a jar of manna kept in the ark that
remained normal (cf. Exod. 16:33; Heb. 9:4).

E. Manna was a fine flake-like item, fine as the hoarfrost
on the ground (cf. Exod. 16:14). It was white, like coriander seed, and tasted
like wafers with honey (cf. Exod. 16:31; Num. 11:7-8).

F. This special provision of YHWH’s ceased when Israel
crossed the Jordan River into Canaan (cf. Jos. 5:10-12). The pillar of cloud
also ceased when they crossed into Canaan.