The Story

Primary

After crossing the Red Sea the children of Israel were in a desert country-hot sunshine overhead and hot sands underfoot and hot south winds with stifling dust. There are rains in that country in winter, but the water quickly runs off and leaves the brook-beds almost dry. Here and there was a little water, but it was bitter. They came to such water and called the place Marah, "bitterness," and the Lord made it sweet for them. Then soon they came to Elim which means "trees." Here was water and shade, and the people rested.

From Elim they moved on, keeping near to the Red Sea, to the valley that would lead them up into the mountains and to Mount Sinai. More rocky hills and sand and desert shrubs. They were hungry and the Lord gave them food: two kinds of food, quails, which came in a large flock in the evening, and manna, which they found on the ground in the morning when the dew dried up. The manna was a heavenly food made natural for the people. It was strange to them. Manna means "What is it?" It was small and round, like hoarfrost, or like seed. It was pearly white in color and sweet to the taste. The people gathered it early, for when the sun grew hot it melted. They crushed it in mortars or ground it in their little mills and made cakes of it. It spoiled if they tried to keep it until the next day. Only on the sixth day they gathered for two days, and on the Sabbath there was none upon the ground; on that day the people rested. The Lord gave the manna through all of the journey and wandering until the people came to the land of Canaan. Do you remember any other time when the Lord gave bread to feed a multitude?

We are starting on the journey from Egypt with the children of Israel. We must look at the map with every lesson and follow along with them on the line of march. Notice how the route goes southward, following the shore of the Red Sea to the valley which would lead them in to Sinai. It was hot desert country, rocks and sand. They crossed brook-beds where water had rushed in winter, but now nearly dry. I find the name Marah on the map, which means "bitterness." What happened here? (Exod. 15:23-25) Further on I find Elim, which means "trees." What happened here? (Exod. 15:27) This was a beautiful oasis with water and shade, springs and palm trees, and the people rested nearly a month. Remember Elim, a beautiful place of refreshment and rest. Find also the wilderness of Sin, the name also of an Egyptian city, referring perhaps to the clayey soil. (Do not confound with the English word.)

As the people journeyed on from Elim they were hungry. Did the Lord feed them in the desert? What came in the evening? What in the morning? Quails in the evening. Do you know them? They do not live in Sinai, but in the spring they fly over in large flocks from their winter home in Africa. Flying low, they could easily be caught. Did the quails come more than once in the desert journey? Yes, twice. Someone find Num. 11:3-35.

Manna in the morning on the ground. It was a wonderful gift. Someone open to Exod. 16:11-36, and someone open to Num. 11:4-9, and let us learn all that we can about manna. Where did the people find it? When? What did it look like? It was in little pellets. "Bdellium" probably means pearl. What was its taste? How did they prepare and use it? What was the amount for each person for a day? An omer was a measure, two or three quarts. What was different on the Sabbath day? For how long a time was the manna given to people? The pot of manna and Aaron's rod, of which we shall learn presently, after the ark was made for the commandments, were probably kept not in the ark but by it. (Heb. 9:4) Note especially 1 Kings 8:9.

"Man did eat angels’ food." All our food is from the Lord, who makes the grain grow and the trees bear fruit. When the Lord fed the multitudes in Galilee, the food came more immediately from His hand, and we call it a miracle. So the giving of the manna was a miracle. Spiritual food was made natural for the people. Where can you find the manna mentioned in the Psalms? (Ps. 78:24-25; 105:40) Where do you find it mentioned in the Gospels? (John 6:31, 58) Where in Revelation? (Rev. 2:17)

1. What is an oasis? What beautiful oasis did the children of Israel come to soon after beginning their desert journey? What did they find there?

2. When the people asked for food, what was sent them in the evening? What in the morning?

3. What was the manna like; in shape, size, color, taste? What does the name mean? Where was the manna from?

4. Of what words in the Lord's Prayer does the story of the manna remind you?

Spiritual Study

Why is the progress from a worldly to a heavenly life described as a desert journey? What does Elim represent, a place of rest and refreshment after the first stage of the desert? After every temptation and trial in which we are faithful, the Lord gives consolation, a Sabbath rest after a week of labor. The devil leaves us and angels come near to minister. Such a state of consolation is an oasis in the desert. The Lord does not withhold all blessings until heaven is reached. There are consolations by the way. What especially is represented by twelve springs of water? What by seventy palm trees? This tree of the desert, from very ancient times an emblem of victory, stands for a grateful sense of the Lord's salvation. (John 12:13; Rev. 7:9-10; A. 8366-8370)

Quails at evening and manna in the morning. You remember the evenings and mornings in the story of creation. Morning represents a full interior state, when the best faculties are active. Evening represents an external state, when the more intense activity is relaxed and outward things are enjoyed. The "lusting" of the people for flesh and the breaking out of the plague among them in consequence, when quails were given a second time (Num. 11:4-5, 33-34), suggests that the quails represent external satisfactions which are in danger of being enjoyed in self-indulgent ways destructive of spiritual life. But there is a right use for external satisfactions. The Lord gives food both for morning and for evening. (A. 8452, 8455, 8462, 8487)

The references to the manna in John 6:31, 58 and Rev. 2:17 help us to see what was represented by this food of the desert. "Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the son of Man shall give unto you." The manna represents the happiness of heavenly affection from the Lord, especially such as comes to one who is making the desert journey, meeting trials and hardships with the Lord's help. It comes with a sense of peace, with confidence in the Lord that He governs all things and provides all things, and that He leads to a good end. (A. 8455)

There is a beautiful lesson of trust in the gathering of the manna each day for the day's need. The Lord gives strength for each duty as it comes. It is useless and wrong to look forward and be anxious; it means that we are trusting in ourselves. The lesson of the manna is taught us again in the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread." Read beautiful things about trust in the Lord in A. 8455 and 8478.

There was no manna on the Sabbath, and it ceased when the people came into the land of Canaan. (Josh. 5:12) This was because the manna represents the consolation which belongs to a state of trial. It is associated with the desert and the forty years. (Exod. 16:35) The Sabbath and the land of Canaan represent a fuller enjoyment of the good things of heaven. (A. 8505-8510)

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