Learning to Rely on God
Exodus 16:16–21 (NASB95)
16“This is what the LORD has commanded, ‘Gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.’ ” 17The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. 18When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat. 19Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.” 20But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them. 21They gathered it morning by morning, every man as much as he should eat; but when the sun grew hot, it would melt.
Commentary - Learning to Rely on God
Exodus 16:16-21 provides us with a powerful picture of God’s provision and the lessons He teaches His people about trust, obedience, and reliance on Him. After delivering the Israelites from Egypt, God begins to shape them into a nation that depends on Him for their daily sustenance and learns to walk in His instructions. The manna from heaven was more than food, it was a divine lesson in faith and obedience.
In verse 16, God provides specific instructions for gathering manna: “Each of you is to gather as much as he will eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.” An omer, approximately 3.5 pounds of manna per person, was exactly what each individual needed for a day. The miracle here is striking: no matter how much or how little each person gathered, when it was measured out, it was always the perfect amount for their needs. This miracle ensured that everyone was provided for and removed any temptation for greed or hoarding. Without this divine provision, human nature might have caused competition, conflict, or even hoarding among the people, as fear of scarcity often leads to selfishness. God’s provision reveals His care for every individual’s needs and His opposition to greed and inequality.
Verse 19 introduces another key part of the lesson. Moses commands the people not to leave any manna until the next morning. This was God’s way of teaching the Israelites to trust in Him daily. They were to rely on Him to provide for tomorrow, rather than stockpile food out of fear or distrust. However, in verse 20, we see that some disobeyed Moses’ instructions. They kept part of the manna overnight, and it became full of maggots and began to stink. This disobedience was rooted in a lack of faith. Despite all God had done for them, there were still those who doubted He would provide for them the next day. This is a sobering reminder of how quickly faith can waver. Earlier in the story, after the crossing of the Red Sea, the people believed in the Lord and Moses. Yet, only a month later, they disregarded Moses’ instructions, showing how easily faith based on miracles alone can fade. True faith is not built on a constant need for miracles but on trust in God’s character and promises.
God’s instructions about manna also foreshadow New Testament truths. The daily gathering of manna parallels Jesus’ teaching in the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Just as the Israelites needed to gather manna each day, we are called to seek God daily for spiritual sustenance and to rely on Him, not on our own efforts or resources. In John 6:35, Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life, saying, “He who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” The manna points us forward to Christ, who meets not only our physical needs but also the deepest needs of our souls. Just as the Israelites depended on manna to sustain them in the wilderness, we are called to depend on Christ to sustain us in our daily journey of faith.
The failure of some Israelites to follow God’s instructions also reminds us of the dangers of disobedience and self-reliance. When the people kept manna overnight, it rotted. This illustrates the futility of trying to hold onto what God has given us for today out of fear for tomorrow. God was teaching them, and us, that He is faithful and that His provision is sufficient. This lesson applies to many areas of life. When we try to hoard resources, cling to control, or rely on our own strength rather than trusting God, the results are often disastrous. We are called to live in daily dependence on Him, trusting that He will provide exactly what we need for each day.
This story challenges us to examine our own faith and reliance on God. Do we trust Him to provide for our needs each day, or do we cling to fear, control, and self-sufficiency? Just as the Israelites had to gather their manna daily, we are called to seek God daily through prayer, Scripture, and discipleship. We cannot live on yesterday’s faith or yesterday’s provision. God calls us to rely on Him moment by moment, trusting that He will sustain us. Let us also remember that God’s provision is sufficient for all, and we are called to share what we have rather than hoard it out of fear. As we walk in obedience to His instructions, may we grow in faith, gratitude, and trust, knowing that the One who provided manna in the wilderness is the same God who provides for us today.
Blessings,
Ryan Goodnight