Miracles In The Wilderness Series - Lesson 16 - Bread From Heaven - Part 1

“I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread...’ “(Exodus 16:12)

     The Lord sent quail that evening.

                   In the morning, He provided bread from heaven.

When Israel saw what remained when the dew had lifted they asked, “What is it?”

“What is it” or “what” is the translation of the Hebrew word măn, phonetically pronounced mawn, and spelled “manna” in English. The Israelites described manna’s appearance as “like” white coriander seed, its color “like” bdellium or pearl-like, and its taste “like” wafers made with honey. (Exodus 16:31, Numbers 11:7)

   

                       Fresh Coriander Seed                              Dried Coriander Seed

Critics of the Bible want to make manna a natural occurrence. However, since the Israelites used the word LIKE in their description, we have assurance it was NOT coriander seed or any other seed known to man. Israel had lived in Egypt 400 years. Surely, by this time, they would have seen and recognized every type of seed or grain from the region.

On the contrary, manna was something completely new.

But, how can we be certain manna was a miracle?

There is only one way to deem any miracle recorded in scripture miraculous:

Believe.

Remember, our Bible is God-breathed – exhaled out from God. It has stood the test of time and its words proven true by many infallible proofs. We have in our possession God’s finished Word. In it, we see manna was remarkable food. Psalm 78:24-25 explains, God “had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven. Men ate angels’ food...”

Elsewhere in scripture, the angel of the Lord baked Elijah, the prophet, a cake. After he ate, Elijah, “…went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.” (I Kings 19:6-8)

God rained manna from heaven every day until the children of Israel entered the Promised Land. The day Israel ate of produce of Canaan, was the first day, in forty years, manna did not fall.

Our loving heavenly Father provided the miracle of daily manna to feed Israel.  Will He not do the same for you? “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

Next week we will see the spiritual meaning in the Bread from heaven. However, in the mean time, if you have questions or any comments about this lesson or any others, please email me:   meatforthehungry@gmail.com.