Hello and welcome to today’s exciting Bible study on Exodus 16. In this chapter, we will discuss the bread that God sent from heaven for the Israelites. According to biblical scholars, the events of Exodus 16 occurred around 1446 B.C.
As usual, I encourage you to turn to Exodus 16 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Exodus 16. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
In the Bible Study on Exodus 15, we read and learned about the songs of praise by Moses, Miriam, and how the bitter waters were made sweet at Marah. Today, in Exodus 16, we will learn about God providing bread and quail from heaven when the Israelites complained and the significance of the Sabbath day.
Backstory on Exodus 15
In Exodus 15, Moses and the Israelites sang songs of praise to the Lord. They celebrated how God had thrown the horse and its rider, which represented the Egyptian army, into the sea. He closed the waters upon them while the Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry land. Miriam and the other women in the congregation also praised the Lord by playing timbrels and dancing.
While in the Wilderness of Shur, the people found that they could not drink the water at Marah. God instructed Moses to throw a tree into the waters, which made them sweet and drinkable for the people.
Without any further delay, let us study together and learn what is Exodus 16 about, shall we?
Exodus 16 Summary
The Israelites departed from Elim, and they reached the Wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after leaving Egypt. The Israelites complained to Moses and Aaron in the desert, saying, that they were better off dying in Egypt where they atleast had meat and bread to eat. They accused Moses and Aaron of leading them into the wilderness to starve.
The Lord instructed Moses that He would rain bread from heaven for the Israelites, testing their obedience by requiring them to gather a specific amount each day, with double portion on the sixth day. Moses and Aaron told the people that their complaints were directed at the Lord, not at them, and that they would soon witness His glory. Moses instructed Aaron to tell the Israelites to approach the Lord, for He has heard their complaints. They looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord confirmed to Moses that He had heard their complaints and promised that they would receive meat in the evening and bread in the morning, affirming His identity as the Lord their God.
The Lord sent quail in the evening, and in the morning, a small round substance appeared on the ground, which the Israelites did not recognize. Moses explained that this is the bread God has provided for them. Moses instructed each person to gather an omer according to their needs, ensuring that no one had excess or lack. Despite Moses’s warning not to leave any leftovers in the field, some Israelites disobeyed, resulting in the food spoiling.
On the sixth day, they were instructed to gather twice as much in preparation for the Sabbath, which God designated as a day of rest. Moses told the Israelites to bake and boil whatever they had to prepare their food for the Sabbath, and the leftovers remained fresh until the next day and did not spoil. He said that six days they would gather and on the seventh day they would find none.
Despite Moses telling the people that they would find no food on the seventh day, some went out to gather manna anyway and found none. The Lord questioned Moses about how long the people would refuse to keep His commandments and laws. He explained that He had given them the Sabbath; therefore, on the sixth day, He provided enough bread for two days. The Lord commanded that each person remain in their place on the seventh day, and so the people rested on that day.
The Israelites referred to the bread from heaven as Manna. It resembled white coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Moses further instructed the Israelites to fill an omer with manna to preserve it for future generations, so they could see the bread with which the Lord fed them in the wilderness after bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
Moses also instructed Aaron to take a pot, put an omer of manna in it, and lay it up before the Lord to be kept for generations, as the Lord had commanded. The Israelites ate manna for forty years until they reached an inhabited land on the borders of Canaan. An ephah is equivalent to ten omers.
Exodus 16 Commentary
1. Exodus 16:2-3
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained to Moses and Aaron about having no bread and meat. They drank water at Marah (Exodus 15) after the Lord, through Moses, made the bitter waters sweet.
Their need was real, but they could have requested of the Lord instead of complaining. When they saw the trouble in the wilderness on the way to the promised land, they felt that they were better off being slaves. They had become so accustomed to being enslaved that they struggled to embrace their freedom. They leaned on their own understanding and feared the worst for themselves even though the Lord God was with them. Even after witnessing all the miraculous acts the Lord performed for them, they still complained. Now, how many of us are similar to the Israelites in the desert? No matter how much the Lord has done to help His people, for some, it still feels like it’s never enough.
2. Exodus 16:4-5
The Lord said He would rain bread from heaven for the people, and they would gather a day’s portion each day. This meant they had to depend on God for food every day. On the sixth day, the Israelites were instructed to gather twice as much food because the seventh day was a day of rest.
Genesis 1:26-31 states that God created man on the sixth day, and Genesis 2:2 tells us that God rested on the seventh day. There is a reason why the Lord established the seventh day as a day of rest: He made His ultimate creation, man in His image on the sixth day, and then rested on the seventh day. Everything else He created up to that point was placed under man’s authority. Therefore, since man was made in His image, he was also made to rest on the seventh day just like God rested.
In Exodus 16:4, God instructed the people to collect a double portion on the sixth day. What does this mean for us? It signifies that God has already provided us with a double portion of supply on the same day that He created us, so we can rest in Him and trust in His word and promises, knowing that He is our ultimate provider. Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35), and in the Lord’s Prayer, He teaches us to ask for our daily bread, not bread for an entire month or a year. Moreover, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. He is our Provider, and He desires for us to rely on Him for provision every single day so that we can maintain a relationship with Him each day.
3. Exodus 16:27
Even when Moses gave clear instructions from the Lord to the Israelites, some of them chose to disobey. This spirit of rebellion against God’s instructions, which began with Adam’s disobedience to God, continues to influence humanity today. We are to overcome, take authority over evil, crucify our flesh, and walk by the Spirit.
Exodus 16 Lessons
What can we learn from Exodus 16?
1. The Lord is our provider
When we look for providence, we are to look to God and not at our employer, friends, or family. Sure, God can use them. However, we must remember that our source is God and not humans. We are to live a life dependent on God. When you pass through the wilderness, man does not have the ability to provide, but only God does.
2. The Lord is merciful
The people complained against God. They preferred to be slaves, which they were so accustomed to. When God leads us to new places, we are called to occupy, which means the place is not empty. We are to drive out what is not of God, and then occupy it, and those who occupy it won’t let go without a fight. I am talking about spiritual enemies and not flesh and blood because we war not against flesh and blood.
When God delivers you from something, don’t yearn for what He delivered you from, and don’t look back simply because where He is leading you feels unfamiliar and challenging. Lean on Him and seek His guidance. Even though the Israelites complained, the Lord heard them and answered their prayers. He was merciful. He was waiting for them to ask. However, the way we approach God should be with praise and thanksgiving, not through complaints. Make your requests known to God, and He will hear you.
3. Rest is essential for human beings
Man was created on the Sabbath day and was already blesssed with a double portion and given dominion over the earth. The Sabbath was created for man. On the seventh day, God finished creating and He rested after having worked for 6 days. Rest is essential for human beings.
Being a workaholic is not beneficial. We must work and not be idle, but it’s important not to work every day of the week. At least one day should be set aside for rest to rejuvenate our minds and bodies so we can start the upcoming week feeling refreshed. We were created by God in such a way that we require rest.
Side note: Interestingly, some languages around the world use a form of the word “Sabbath” to refer to Saturday. For instance, in Italian, Saturday is called “Sabato” and in Spanish “Sábado”, originating from Latin “Sabbatum” (Saturday) and “Sabbati dies” (Sabbath day). In German and Russian, “Saturday” is referred to as “Sonnabend” and “Subbota,” respectively, which also suggests its connection to rest or the Sabbath.
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study on Exodus 16. I hope you enjoyed this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with your friends and family. Also, share your thoughts and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Exodus 16. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until next time!