Exodus 16:16

14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was ^aa small round ^bsubstance, as fine as frost on the ground.

15 So when the children 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, ^a“This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.

16 This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it ^aaccording to each one’s need, one ^bomer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’ ”

17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less.

18 So when they measured it by omers, ^ahe who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.

19 And Moses said, “Let no one ^aleave any of it till morning.”

20 Notwithstanding they did not¹ heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
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What Does Exodus 16:16 Mean?

Exodus 16:16-18

The recommended daily amount per person was an omer (about a large bowlful or two quarts). In the same way, ministers often recommend a certain amount of daily Bible study as a guideline. This guideline serves as a motivator to help a person study God's Word, which in the end is the important thing.

Of the Israelites the Bible says that those who gathered little did not lack, and those who gathered much did not have any wasted. In the same way, some days even just a verse or two carefully pondered is adequate to sustain us for that day. It could be exactly the thought we need. On the other hand, an intensive three-hour Bible study session does not leave us feeling we have overfed. You cannot overindulge on God's Word. Nor does a long session today eliminate the absolute need for fresh Bible study tomorrow! The Israelites could not store the manna over from day to day, as it would breed worms (verses 19-20). God made sure they went out every day for their manna to teach us we need to study the Bible fresh every day.

No wonder Jesus teaches us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). The same is true physically: We can gorge ourselves one day and still need to eat the next. God wants us to learn from the physical here: A hearty feeding on God's Word over the Sabbath, for example, is simply not enough to last the whole week. The very next day, and each day thereafter, we must gather fresh manna and eat it.

The only exception is the Sabbath (Exodus 16:22-26). We are not to earn or work for our physical bread on the Sabbath, and even considering this spiritually, it is often true that we have less time to do intensive personal study on the Sabbath. Yet God still feeds us His Word, does He not? We are fed by the sermonette, sermon, songs, and fellowship at church!

Staff
Have You Had Your Manna Today?

Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Exodus 16:16:

Exodus 31:12-17

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Exodus 16:17 >>

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What Does Exodus 16:16 Mean?

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

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