This passage contains the themes of both eating bread from God and the rigors of the wilderness journey. Though the booths are unmentioned here, this fills in some of the details of that time. Notice that it was God who caused a measure of hardship, and denied them some things to see what was in their hearts.
He does this with us as well, not just during these two feasts, but throughout our lives. He withholds things when withholding is better. That's what we must accept, and then begin to explore why it could be better this way, with something lacking, rather than our way, with everything already perfect.
