Manna
Exodus 16:13-20
The Source of Grumbling and God’s Provision
The Beginning of Grumbling
The Israelites, having come out into the wilderness, now begin to grumble about food. One of the most frequently used words in the Book of Exodus is likely “grumbling.” When do we grumble? I am thankful that all the saints in our church live as though they are debtors. When we do something for someone and start thinking about what we’re owed in return, that’s when grumbling begins. For example, if I give someone 100 but receive only 50 back, dissatisfaction builds up. However, those who live as if they are always in debt don’t grumble. People who think they’re living with extra blessings have no complaints; instead, they overflow with gratitude.
Though God delivered the Israelites from a life of slavery, they grumble in the wilderness—first about water, and now about food. Why? Because they fail to remember God’s grace. Grumbling comes from those who feel entitled. But those who live by grace don’t grumble; they give thanks instead.
The Provision of Manna
Their grumbling was about food. Finding something to eat in the wilderness isn’t easy. And if it’s not just for a day or two but for 40 years, it becomes incredibly difficult. So God provides food for the Israelites. After the morning dew dries, He gives them something small, round, and frost-like on the ground for them to gather and eat. A family representative simply goes out and collects enough for the number of people—enough to eat for the day. According to Scripture, God instructs them to gather one omer per person, about 2.3 liters. For a family of five, gathering around 12 liters would suffice for the day. The next day, they’d go out and gather another 12 liters.
But some disobeyed God’s command, gathering more and keeping it until the next morning. As a result, it bred worms and began to stink. On the day before the Sabbath, however, God commands them to gather double, so they wouldn’t have to work on the Sabbath. Yet some didn’t gather double and went out on the Sabbath morning to look for manna, but none fell. This reveals their lack of faith.
2. Why Did God Make Them Gather Manna Daily?
A Question Arises
This raises a question: Why did God give manna every day and let it rot if kept? Wouldn’t it be more convenient to gather a week’s worth at once? Yet He made them gather only a day’s portion, and if they kept it, it became unusable. In the wilderness, there’s no food. Eating today isn’t the end; you need to eat tomorrow too. Naturally, when food is available, people want to store as much as possible for security. But if they gather only enough for the day, how anxious would they feel about tomorrow?
A. God’s Provision Happens Daily
God provides daily bread. He promises to supply manna every day and tells the people to trust Him. It’s God, not manna, who takes responsibility for our lives. Who holds our lives in His hands? Yes, it’s God! Without His daily guidance, we couldn’t survive a single day. If we’re not careful, we might think manna sustains us. That’s why God demands faith.
B. Because He Knows Human Greed
Another reason for daily provision is that God knows human greed. We all have desires. Losing our appetite would mean losing a great joy. These desires are gifts from God. The problem arises when they exceed proper limits, leading us to lose control and forget what’s essential. Unrestrained sexual desire can lead to crime; uncontrolled appetite can cause obesity or health issues; unchecked possessiveness can turn into greed. Knowing how weak we are to greed, God allows only daily bread to keep us from being ruled by it.
C. To Overcome the Fear of Hunger
Likewise, God knows our fears. It’s not just greed; we also carry vague fears about the future. To ease that fear, people try to fill their storehouses. The fear of hunger undermines our boldness, and excessive fear damages our mind and body. In psychiatric wards, there are people trapped by irrational fears. Worry breeds more worry, leading to mental breakdowns. Some patients live in constant fear that gangs are out to kill them, unable to sleep from anxiety. The future is uncertain, and such concerns are natural. But God commands us not to worry, because worry harms our faith in Him. To train us to overcome the fear of hunger, He gives us daily bread.
3. The Meaning of the Sabbath
A. God Takes Responsibility Even When We Rest
Trust in God’s precise provision shines even clearer in the Sabbath system. Since when did we start living in units of seven days? Scripture teaches that God created the heavens and earth and rested on the final day. When gathering manna, God commands the Israelites to rest on the Sabbath. The Sabbath runs from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. Today, Christians no longer observe the Sabbath strictly; instead, we worship on Sunday to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were offered, but in the New Testament, we worship God through praise, gathering on the Lord’s Day.
B. The Need for Rest
Why did God forbid work on the Sabbath? It’s about rest. Humans aren’t machines—even machines need rest. In early Korean Christianity, even oxen rested on Sundays. We need rest. Yet in Korea, people are weak at resting. To earn money, they keep stores open 365 days a year. Look at H Mart—it never closes.
In Louisville, where I lived, a Korean couple ran a market. Though they were believers, they couldn’t close on Sundays due to the nature of their business. They’d rush from worship to open the store, as Sunday sales matched the rest of the week combined. But one day, they decided in faith to rest on Sundays. Surprisingly, their sales increased. Humans are spiritual beings. Focusing only on physical work kills the soul; relentless labor kills the body. A life without rest destroys both spirit and flesh.
C. Rest Is Not Optional, But Essential
God mandated rest because He knows our tendencies. The Sabbath isn’t just for the rich—it’s more vital for servants and the poor. The wealthy can rest whenever they want, but if a master never lets a servant rest, that servant will die. So God ensures rest for servants and even livestock. Without it, people perish. Rest isn’t a choice; it’s a necessity.
Application: Living by Faith and Resting in God
Today, we’ve seen two things God desires through the provision of manna. First, He wants us to seek only our daily bread, relying on Him. Second, through the Sabbath, He desires us to rest one day a week. Living by faith means trusting that God’s provision is enough for each day. “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”
In the same way, we don’t need to fear rest. Set apart one day for God, worshiping and pleasing Him alone. We must enjoy both spiritual and physical rest. When we live by this principle, God takes responsibility for our lives. That we are spiritual beings goes without saying. For our souls to be healthy, we must eat well and rest well. I pray in Jesus’ name that all members of our church may have wisdom in resting.
PASTORAL COLUMN
“Let not worry and anxiety ever depart from your heart.”
C.S. Lewis, a great lay theologian, vividly describes Satan’s schemes in his book The Screwtape Letters. Written entirely from Satan’s perspective, the book takes the form of letters exchanged between an uncle and his nephew, discussing how to lead Christians to hell.
What is Satan’s most important message? What does Satan want from us? It is to make us live chasing happiness. Satan desires for us to pursue the “blue bird” of happiness, convincing us that if we just find it, we can live happily. When we think of Satanism, we often imagine dark rituals with candles lit at night and the sacrifice of infants, but that’s not the reality. The core message of Satanism is this: “Live as your heart desires.” How appealing is that? Don’t we all secretly wish to live that way? No one wants to be bound by another’s rules or to live laboriously under strict discipline. So why is this a bad message?
Yet this message of Satanism stands in complete opposition to the teachings of the Bible. The Bible demands that we live holy lives as children of God. In other words, it commands us that the essence of our lives is not to pursue happiness but to pursue holiness. In truth, we cannot chase happiness. No one can grasp it in their hands. But holiness is something we can pursue.
What is the most effective way Satan causes Christians to fail in living holy lives? How does Satan ensure that Christians live only chasing happiness? There are various methods. One might be through abundance—economic prosperity can make us forget God. Another could be by planting pride in our hearts. But more effective than all these is preventing us from hearing God’s Word—or ensuring that, even if we hear it, it doesn’t take root in our lives.
Jesus teaches us about this through the parable of the sower. Seeds that fall on the path, rocky ground, or among thorns cannot grow and bear fruit. On the path, birds come and eat them up. On rocky ground, they wither quickly because the soil is shallow. Among thorns, they are choked by the thorns and fail to produce fruit. In this parable, the seed represents God’s Word, and the field represents our hearts.
When I was in the first year of middle school, I experienced a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit. From then on, going to church became exciting and something I looked forward to. The people at church became dear to me, and I wished my school friends could experience the same thing. But one day, I began to dislike the pastor’s family. The pastor’s eldest son started using violence against the church students, causing many kids to leave the church. I, too, grew deeply disappointed in the pastor and his family.
From some point onward, I no longer looked forward to worship. I found myself going to church on Sundays out of obligation. Sermon time became pure torment as I battled overwhelming sleepiness. I used to love listening to sermons, but at some point, they stopped sinking in, and sleep would overpower me.
While serving in the military, I was harshly reprimanded by the battalion commander’s wife, a deaconess at the military church. Through that experience, I realized how powerless and foolish a sinner I was. It led me to repent thoroughly and return to God. Only then did I stop falling asleep during sermons. That’s when I understood: “The first temptation Satan uses against believers is to keep them from hearing God’s Word!”
Take a moment to examine your spiritual health. If you find it difficult to listen to God’s Word during worship, it’s time to check your faith. Strive to let your life be captured by God’s Word. Then your soul will become healthy and strong.