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Exodus 16

36 verses

TL;DR

God provides miraculous bread, manna, to the Israelites in the wilderness as a test of faith and obedience, establishing the Sabbath and covenantal provision.

Summary

After leaving Elim, the Israelites murmur in the wilderness of Sin, lamenting their hardships. God promises to send bread from heaven, and Moses and Aaron announce the schedule: evening quail, morning manna, and a daily collection. The people gather the manna according to their needs, with instructions to keep none until morning or else it will rot. On the sixth day, the Lord gives twice as much, instructing that the surplus be stored for the Sabbath. The Israelites observe the Sabbath by resting and not gathering, and the manna is named Manna, described as like coriander seed and tasting like honey wafers. Moses sets aside an omer of manna as a memorial for future generations, and the people eat manna for forty years until they reach Canaan.

Outline
  1. Israelites’ complaint and God’s promise of daily bread
  2. Rules for gathering, Sabbath observance, and surplus storage
  3. Manna’s lasting provision and covenantal testimony
Themes
faith and obediencedivine provisionlaw and covenant
Keywords
mannasabbathquaildewomerbreadglorycloudGodIsrael
People
MosesAaronIsraelites
Places
ElimSinSinaiwilderness of SinCanaan
Things
mannaquaildewomerbread from heavenglory of the Lordcloud
Key Verses
  • Exodus 16:4: God’s promise of bread from heaven
  • Exodus 16:15: Identification of manna and its nature
  • Exodus 16:24: Manna’s preservation and lack of decay
  • Exodus 16:31: Name, appearance, and taste of manna
Questions
  • What does the manna reveal about God’s care for His people?
  • How does the Sabbath instruction in this chapter anticipate later Jewish worship?
  • Why is the surplus given on the sixth day significant?
  • What lessons can we draw about obedience when the people fail to keep the rules?
  • In what ways does the naming of manna serve as a covenantal sign?
Sentiment

neutral
The narrative mixes divine provision with human complaint and discipline, reflecting a balanced perspective.