Exodus 16:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.

NIV: Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.

NASB: They gathered it morning by morning, everyone as much as he would eat; but when the sun became hot, it would melt.

CSB: They gathered it every morning. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat, but when the sun grew hot, it melted.

NLT: After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared.

KJV: And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.

NKJV: So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted.

Every morning for forty years (Exodus 16:35), God gave Israel manna (Exodus 16:14–18). Manna is a "bread" sent by God which also carries symbolic lessons. Jesus would use manna as a key concept in explaining His earthly ministry (John 6:48–51). The substance provided Israelites with food during their time in the wilderness. However, it did not instantly appear in bowls and ovens. The people had to collect it (2 Thessalonians 3:10). God provides but still expects His people to complete the roles He has given.

Manna taught Israel three major lessons. First, that God was on their side and capable of providing for them (Exodus 16:12). When they were hungry, He brought them food (Exodus 16:1–3). Second, this dependence should be ongoing: manna was provided daily and had to be gathered daily (Exodus 16:19–20). Reliance on God is not an on-and-off subject. Rather, we should look to Him constantly (Psalm 105:4).

Third, the Lord's instructions always have meaning and disobeying them always comes with consequences. When the people ignored commands not to stockpile manna, the result was a sickening mess. And yet when they kept extra overnight for the Sabbath—as instructed (Exodus 16:23)—it remained pure.

In the upcoming verses, Moses will explain manna collection prior to the Sabbath (Exodus 16:22–26). Formal laws about this seventh-day rest will be part of the law Moses brings from God (Exodus 20:8–11; 31:12–17; 35:1–3).

Exodus 16:13–30 explains the miraculous provision of meat and bread during Israel's journey through the wilderness. Quail—small birds—arrive at night. In the morning, the ground is covered in a strange substance. This becomes a bread-like food for Israel, later called "manna" (Exodus 16:31). It also symbolizes their daily dependence on God—it could not be kept longer than instructed, so the people had to continually trust the Lord to provide more. To further prove this, God instructs the people to rest on the seventh day of the week.

As the recently-rescued Israelites (Exodus 14:21–31) journey on, they complain about food. God provides them with manna: a grain-like substance which miraculously appears each morning. The people are given instructions about how to gather and use manna. Only on the sixth day of the week can they collect more and keep leftovers for the following day. That seventh day is to be a time of rest, called a "sabbath."

Israel has celebrated (Exodus 15:1) their miraculous escape through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–28). They have survived their first hardship (Exodus 15:23–25). God now provides manna in response to their complaints about food. He also begins to establish the concept of the seventh-day Sabbath. Soon, the Lord will send another miracle regarding water (Exodus 17:1–7) and the people will have their first military battle (Exodus 17:8–16). Shortly after this, Moses' father-in-law will arrive and offer some helpful advice (Exodus 18).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.