Some people operate on the belief that the world’s resources are finite, like a pie with only so many slices—if one person takes more, another must go without.
However, when God provided manna to the Hebrews, this principle didn’t apply. Those who tried to hoard by gathering extra found their manna spoiled, while those who gathered only what they needed discovered they had exactly enough.
This is what the Lord has commanded: Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer per person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents.”
The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed.
And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over until morning” (Exodus 16:16-20).
The hardships God allowed the Hebrews to experience after their exodus from Egypt were intended to test their faith. Similarly, both difficulties and periods of affluence can test our own faith today.
The question for us becomes: Can we truly trust God and commit our lives to Him, believing that He knows what is best, is capable, and willing to provide for us?
If we believe we can truly trust God and that His ability to bless others is limitless, then we will be generous in our giving, both to God and to other people.
Some Failed the Test
This test was given to determine if people would align themselves with God’s values and trust Him for their provision. Inevitably, some individuals failed.
But they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it until morning, and it became wormy and rotten. And Moses was angry with them.
Morning by morning they gathered it, as much as each needed, but when the sun grew hot, it melted (Exodus 16:20-21).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed common human worries: our lifespan and necessities like food and clothing.
He told us not to worry about these pressing issues, but instead to trust God. If we seek God wholeheartedly, He promises to care for our needs.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
This same lesson—trusting God and His willingness to care for His people—was learned by the Hebrews just a few weeks after gaining freedom from slavery in Egypt.
That truth remains relevant and crucial for us today. It presents a challenge: Will we trust God, or will we believe we must take our lives into our own hands?
Another Opportunity to Trust
God instituted the Sabbath to help His people learn to trust Him. They were to gather extra food on the day before the Sabbath, and then gather no manna on the Sabbath itself. God would preserve the food they had gathered, providing for them on their day of rest.
On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, two omers apiece. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, he said to them,
“This is what the Lord has commanded: Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.”
So they put it aside until morning, just as Moses commanded them, and it did not rot, and there were no maggots in it.
Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none” (Exodus 16:22-26).
The Sabbath, along with all the other Sabbath-like events for God’s people, was designed to cultivate this trust in Him.
Jesus articulated this beautifully: we are to seek God and His righteousness above all things, and then God will care for our needs.
Reflections
Trusting God’s willingness to provide for His people is a significant test for us. It’s one thing to claim belief in God, but another to insist on managing our lives solely through our own efforts.
The Hebrews’ experiences in the wilderness taught them that God had to be their sole resource, as He was the only one they could truly depend upon.
The truth is, the same applies to us. Let us actively seek ways to learn how to depend on Him fully in this world.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 