Bible Commentaries
Exodus 16

Verses 1-36

From Elim the people moved into the dreariness of the great wilderness and began to be conscious of the scarcity of some of the things which they had had, even in the midst of Egyptian slavery. There manifested itself a craving for the material which for the moment rendered them unconscious of the value of the spiritual. They plainly declared that bondage with flesh was preferable to liberty with hunger. Very arresting is the attitude and activity of Jehovah toward them. Without rebuke He gave them both bread and flesh. In the method of the gift of the manna one great lesson is apparent. The people were to understand that their life was to be daily dependence on God. They were to gather each day for five days and on the sixth enough for that day and the Sabbath.

Probably there are today some people who may smile at this story of days far distant. The great facts, however, abide to this hour. In the path of obedience every man will find manifestations of the divine Presence and overruling, and that things impossible to him are possible to him with God.