Explanation: In Exodus 16, God begins to feed Israel with manna. About May 15, 1446 B.C., a month after they left Egypt (April 15, 1446), Israel set out from their camp in Elim and went to the wilderness of Sin (or Zin). The book of Numbers contains a fuller list of Israel's stops, and Numbers 33:10 mentions an intermediate stop at the Red Sea, which John Gill places at 6 miles from Elim. The stop was probably close enough to Elim to be considered roughly the same region; and it was probably uneventful, and so not mentioned in the more compressed history here in Exodus. When they arrived at the Wilderness of Sin, they accused Moses and Aaron of leading them into a death trap where they would perish with hunger. This was a continuation of the doubts and complaints which they had from the inception of their journey. Apparently, they had left Egypt with enough food for a month, because it was exactly a month after they left Egypt and arrived in the Wilderness of Sin that they complained of hunger. Hunger had not been an issue in their previous complaints (1-3).
     The LORD answered this complaint by announcing that he was going to start supplying Manna to the people as a test of whether they would walk in his ways or not; he told them to gather what they needed daily and to gather twice as much before the Sabbath. And Moses told them that they would have meat in the evening and bread to the full in the morning; but he told them frankly that they had not grumbled against him and Aaron, but against the LORD (4-8). The LORD then told Moses and Aaron to bring the people near to the LORD; and he appeared in a cloud and told them through Moses that they would have food in the evening and be filled by morning (9-12).
     In the wilderness of Sin (or Zin), in 1446 B.C., as an act of grace and mercy, God then provided two kinds of food: quail and manna. In the evening, quail covered the camp. Apparently, they ate these until the morning. (About a year later, in 1445 B.C., in Kibrothhattaavah, as an act of judgment against Israel's continuing rebellion and lust, God again sent quail, but this time accompanied by a plague: Numbers 11:31-35). However, here in the wilderness of Sin (or Zin), God gave quail without judgment. Also, in the morning, when the dew had melted, the people saw a small, round, or flaky, or scale-like thing lying on the ground and called it a "What" -- a "whatness," or, in modern slang, a "whatzit," because they did not know what to call it. And Moses told them it was the bread that the LORD had provided, and told them to gather as much as they could eat, and told them to leave nothing till the morning. But some did not listen, and it bred worms and stank; and Moses was angry with them. They continued gathering it morning by morning, but when the sun grew hot it melted (13-21). On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much because the seventh day was a solemn rest to the LORD, and the Manna which was set aside for the Sabbath did not breed worms or stink as it did on the other days; and they were told that there would be none on the Sabbath (22-26). Contrary to what they were told, some people went to look for Manna on the Sabbath, but there was none; and the LORD again reminded them to gather extra on the sixth day and rest on the seventh day (27-30).
     Manna was described as being white like coriander seed and having a taste like wafers made with honey. In Numbers 11:7-8 it was also described as being like coriander seed, and the color was described as the color of bdellium and the taste like fresh oil. In Numbers 11, the effect of Manna (like oil) upon the palate, is set in contrast to the inward effect of Manna in the hearts of rebels who complained that Manna caused them to have a "dried soul" because they lacked variety in their diet. So, the taste may have particular reference to the pleasantness of its texture and the effect on the palate. It also may have reference to the taste after being prepared, while the Exodus passage may refer to the uncooked taste. Taken together, the Exodus and Numbers passages may imply that Manna, when prepared for eating, was like a moist, smooth-textured, honey-flavored cake or pastry. As for the appearance of Manna, it clearly is white (Exodus 16:31). It is compared, in Exodus, to coriander seed (Hebrew, "gad"), and, in Numbers to bdellium (Hebrew, "bedolach"). There is some debate about the proper translation for these two words, but coriander and bdellium are widely accepted translations. Both coriander (which is a seed) and bdellium (which is an aromatic myrrh-like resin) have a color range which varies from white (often amber, for the bdellium) to very dark brown or nearly black. Also, one variety of the coriander plant (Coriandrum sativum), has white petals (31).
     The LORD commanded that a jar of manna be placed before the LORD throughout their generations; and the people ate manna for forty years till they came to the border of Canaan (32-36).
     NOTE: The concept of God's provision, especially his daily provision, is strikingly presented in today's chapter. And it is a core, recurring concept throughout Scripture. For Jacob, Agur (quoted by Solomon), Jesus, and Paul, reliance solely on God was a fundamental aspiration.
     Jacob, in Genesis 28:10-22, experienced his "Jacob's Ladder" vision. In this vision, God confirmed that Jacob would be heir to the covenant which God made with Abraham and Isaac. The benefits were abundant, and their worth was immeasurable. In response, Jacob agreed, and he set forth some surprisingly modest requests. He asked for safety, food, clothing, and peace. He promised that God would be his God and that he would give a tenth of his gains to God. He recognized that a reliable supply of the basics of life was vital. Ironically, he did the opposite of Esau. Esau sold his birthright for food. Jacob sold himself to God for food (plus the other necessities mentioned). God was central to his desires.
     Agur, in Proverbs 30:7-9, asked God for three things, truth, necessary money, and food. He wanted God to provide these on a continuing basis. God was central to his desires.
     Jesus, in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4), tells us to ask for the same kinds of things that Agur asked for, particularly food, and deliverance from evil. God was central to his desires.
     Paul, in Philippians 4:12-13, said that Christ had taught him how to be content whether he was full or hungry, and in abundance or necessity. God was central to his desires.
     [ Sermons: Dominic Smart. James Philip. John G Reisinger. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: Today's painting depicts the descent of manna, as described in today's chapter. ]

     ³¹ And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. ³² And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I bought you forth from the land of Egypt. ³³ And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations. ³⁴ As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept. ³⁵ And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. ³⁶ Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.

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