Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MANNA

A substance which fell in the night to sustain the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. God sent them manna (Heb. mān) for 40 years, until they celebrated the Passover at Gilgal in the Promised Land (Exod. 16:35; Josh. 5:12). Manna was a substance like coriander or frost (Exod. 16:13, 31), the color of gum resin (Num. 11:7). The Israelites collected it in the morning, gathering only enough for the day ahead, lest it spoil (Exod. 16:16-21); double provisions could be collected the day before the sabbath (v. 5). Manna was crushed and then boiled or baked (Num. 11:8; Exod. 16:23). The taste of manna was like cakes made with oil or honey (Exod. 16:31; Num. 11:8).

The appearance of manna was a miraculous occurrence that cannot be explained entirely by natural phenomena. However, some plants in the Sinai produce sweet substances that scholars have identified with manna. After sucking on the tamarisk tree (genus Tamarix), some insects secrete a sweet substance. Other plants also exhibit similar secretions. Lichens (Lecanora) have also been proposed for manna, since when dry they travel through the air and fall on the earth.

Manna is used symbolically (“bread from heaven”) to represent God’s care (Neh. 9:20; John 6:31; Gk. mánna; cf. Rev. 2:17). The Israelites were humbled and tested by manna to learn that “one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:3). Moses commanded that a jar of manna be kept throughout the ages as a remembrance of God’s safekeeping (Exod. 16:33).

Megan Bishop Moore

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MANNA

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)