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Topical Encyclopedia

Manna is a miraculous provision of food described in the Bible, primarily in the books of Exodus and Numbers. It was provided by God to the Israelites during their 40-year journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. Manna is often referred to as "bread from heaven" and is a significant symbol of God's providence and care for His people.

Biblical Description and Origin

The first mention of manna occurs inExodus 16. The Israelites, having left Egypt, found themselves in the Desert of Sin, where they began to grumble against Moses and Aaron due to a lack of food. In response, God promised to rain down bread from heaven for them.Exodus 16:4 states, "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.'"

Manna appeared each morning after the dew evaporated, resembling small coriander seeds, white in color, and tasting like wafers made with honey (Exodus 16:31). The Israelites were instructed to gather only as much as they needed for each day, with a double portion to be collected on the sixth day to prepare for the Sabbath, when no manna would appear.

Significance and Symbolism

Manna served not only as physical sustenance but also as a test of obedience and faith. The daily gathering of manna required the Israelites to trust in God's provision and to adhere to His commands. Those who attempted to gather more than needed found that the excess would spoil by the next day, except on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:19-20).

InNumbers 11:7-9 , manna is further described: "Now the manna resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of gum resin. The people walked around gathering it, and they ground it on a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes, and it tasted like the flavor of fresh oil."

Manna is also a type of Christ, as Jesus Himself makes the connection in the New Testament. InJohn 6:31-35 , Jesus refers to Himself as the "true bread from heaven," contrasting the temporary sustenance of manna with the eternal life He offers: "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.'"

Preservation and Memorial

To commemorate God's provision, the LORD commanded Moses to preserve an omer of manna in a jar to be kept before the Testimony (Exodus 16:32-34). This jar of manna was later placed in the Ark of the Covenant as a testimony to future generations of God's faithfulness and provision during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness.

Conclusion

Manna remains a profound symbol of God's provision, faithfulness, and the necessity of reliance on Him. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual nourishment found in Christ, the true bread from heaven, who sustains believers with eternal life.

Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 11:8
And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
Nave's Topical Index

Greek

3131.manna --manna
... wandering Israelites in the OT when God gave them (divinely-sentbread wafers)
(see... evidence to show that Jewish theology regarded the giving ofmanna as the...

Strong's Hebrew

4478a. man --manna (a kind ofbread)
... 4478, 4478a. man. 4478b .manna (a kind ofbread). Transliteration: man
Short Definition:manna. Word Origin of uncertain derivation...

4478. man --manna (a kind ofbread)
... 4477, 4478. man. 4478a .manna (a kind ofbread). Transliteration: man
Phonetic Spelling: (mawn) Short Definition:manna.manna...

Library

Lii.Manna. Exodus xvi. 4.
... It was, "Give us this day our dailybread." There are some who try to live on past
religion, and it is like themanna of verse 20. Is your religion fresh?...

TheManna
... He not only asserts the inseparableness of His gift from His Person, but also asserts,
with a reference, no doubt, to themanna, 'I am theBread that came down...

TheBread of God
... Themanna was for a generation; thisbread is 'the same yesterday, and to-day, and
for ever.' That was for a handful of men; this is for the world....

Jesus theBread of Life.
... heaven. The truebread is not themanna. That perished like all earthly food....
Life. Of the truebread themanna was a type. (John 6:33). 33....

Christ theBread of Life.
... to pray, the Saviour said: "Give us this day our dailybread." Ourbread of life
is a never-failing supply. There was no need of laying upmanna, for God gave...

August the Fourth HiddenManna
... "My meat is to do the will." There is a secret nutriment in thebread we give away.
The Lord gives us to eat of the "hiddenmanna" whenever we are seeking the...

John Chapter vi. 15-44
... But whatbread?Manna, perhaps? No, but thebread whichmanna signified, namely,
the Lord Jesus Himself. My Father giveth you the truebread....

Christ theBread of Life. John 6:31,35,39.
... 'Tis he our souls hath fed: Thou art our living stream, O Lord,. And thou th' immortal
bread. [Themanna came from lower skies,. But Jesus from above,....

LMC Wesley. TheBread of Life.
... 1 Father, supply my every need; Sustain the life Thyself hast given; Oh! grant
the never-failingbread, Themanna that comes down from heaven!...

Christ theBread of Life, John 6 31 35 39
... 1 Let us adore th' eternal Word, 'Tis he our souls hath fed; Thou art our living
stream, O Lord, And thou th' immortalbread. 2[[Themanna came from lower skies...