How often do we worry about tomorrow instead of trusting God for today?
Key Verse:
“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.’” —Exodus 16:4 NASB
Background Context:
In Exodus 15, God delivered Israel from the bitter waters of Marah and brought them to Elim, where they found twelve springs and seventy palm trees. The Lord had once again demonstrated His faithfulness and provision.
Yet as Exodus 16 begins, the people face another challenge. Food is becoming scarce, and instead of remembering God’s recent faithfulness, they begin to complain. What follows is an important lesson not only about God’s provision, but also about learning to trust Him one day at a time.
(Continued and expanded after scripture.)
The LORD Provides Manna
1Then they set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. 2The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
4Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. 5“On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, “At evening you will know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt; 7and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, for He hears your grumblings against the LORD; and what are we, that you grumble against us?”
The LORD Provides Meat
8Moses said, “This will happen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the LORD hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.”
9Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, ‘Come near before the LORD, for He has heard your grumblings.’” 10It came about as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. 11And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12“I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’”
13So it came about at evening that the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground. 15When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. 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.
Reflection on Exodus 16:1–21:
One of the recurring themes throughout Exodus is how quickly the Israelites forgot what God had already done for them. Not long before this, they had witnessed the plagues in Egypt, celebrated the Passover, crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, and seen God provide water in the wilderness. Yet when hunger arose, fear quickly replaced faith.
The people began to grumble against Moses and Aaron, even suggesting that life in Egypt had been better. It is remarkable how quickly they forgot the cruelty of slavery and remembered only the comfort of having food readily available. Hardship often tempts us to view the past through rose-colored glasses while overlooking the ways God has already been working in our lives.
Before we criticize Israel too harshly, we should consider how often we respond similarly. God answers a prayer, provides for a need, or carries us through a difficult season. Then a new challenge appears, and suddenly we begin to worry as though God has never helped us before.
The wonderful truth in this passage is that God’s faithfulness is greater than our weakness. Even though the people complained, God chose to provide for them. He promised to rain bread from heaven and provide meat in the evening. The Israelites could not solve their problem, but God already had a solution prepared.
This provision was about more than food. God specifically said He was testing them to see whether they would walk in His instruction. The issue was not simply whether they would receive bread. The issue was whether they would trust the God who provided it.
Each morning, the manna appeared with the dew. The people were instructed to gather only enough for that day. If they attempted to store extra for themselves, it spoiled. God was teaching them a lesson in dependence. They could not rely on yesterday’s provision for today’s needs, nor could they hoard enough to eliminate the need to trust Him tomorrow.
This principle appears throughout Scripture. Yeshua taught His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). He also taught them not to worry about tomorrow because the Father knows what they need (Matthew 6:25–34). God often provides what we need one day at a time so that we learn to depend on Him rather than on our own resources.
The manna also reminds us that God’s provision may not always arrive in the form we expect. The Israelites likely would have preferred established fields, barns, and permanent supplies. Instead, God gave them bread from heaven. His provision was sufficient, but it required trust.
Notice also that God provided exactly what each person needed. Those who gathered much had no excess, and those who gathered little had no shortage. This points us toward God’s faithful care for His people. He knows our needs better than we do and is fully capable of supplying them according to His wisdom and timing.
Ultimately, this passage is not primarily about manna. It is about the God who provides it. The Lord was teaching Israel that their survival depended not upon Egypt, their own efforts, or even the manna itself. Their survival depended upon Him.
The same lesson applies to us today. We often desire complete certainty about the future. We want enough resources, plans, and security to remove the need for faith. Yet God frequently calls us to trust Him one day at a time. He invites us to remember His past faithfulness, rely on His present provision, and trust Him with tomorrow.
The God who delivered Israel from Egypt was also the God who sustained them in the wilderness. And He remains faithful to provide for His people today.
Application:
- Remember God’s past faithfulness when new challenges arise.
- Bring your concerns to God in prayer rather than responding with complaint.
- Trust God to provide what you need for today.
- Resist the temptation to worry excessively about tomorrow.
- Recognize that God’s greatest gift is not merely His provision, but His presence.
Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for being a faithful provider. Forgive me for the times I worry and forget the ways You have already cared for me. Help me to trust You one day at a time and to rely on Your wisdom rather than my own understanding. Teach me to be grateful for Your provision and to remember that my ultimate security is found in You. Thank You for supplying my needs and for walking with me through every season of life. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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