Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's so striking here is that God's provision of manna isn't just about filling their bellies; it's a deliberate test of their obedience. He's not only about to deliver them from hunger but also to see if they'll walk according to His direction, showing that divine provision is always intertwined with discipleship.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Israelites have just arrived in the wilderness of Sin after leaving Elim, and the people are already complaining and murmuring against Moses and Aaron, wishing they had died in Egypt rather than starve in the desert. In response to their grumbling, God declares to Moses that He will provide food from heaven, a daily bread that will serve as a test of their obedience to His coming law. This divine provision is designed to reveal whether they will trust and follow Him.
Imagine facing starvation in a barren desert. What's your first instinct? For the Israelites, it was to complain. But God's response wasn't just food; it was a test.
In Exodus 16:4, God promises to 'rain bread from heaven.' This wasn't just about survival; it was a deliberate act to 'test' the Israelites. He wanted to see if they would trust Him enough to obey His instructions daily.
The Purpose of the Manna
God's 'law' wasn't just the Ten Commandments etched in stone. Sometimes, His law comes in the form of simple, daily instructions. What can we learn from this?
The phrase 'my law' in Exodus 16:4 might seem out of place before the formal giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. However, it refers to God's directive, His rule, or His instruction. In this context, the 'law' was the specific command to gather manna each day.
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Obedience in the Ordinary
Understand the original words
torah · Hebrew Noun
A formal divine instruction, commandment, or teaching given by God to His people; it serves as the standard for holiness, obedience, and life in relationship with Him.
nasah · Hebrew Verb
A situation or process designed by God to prove the genuineness of faith, reveal the condition of the heart, and refine the believer’s reliance upon Him.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Depart Egypt
Following God's deliverance from slavery, the Israelites began their journey toward the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Arrival in Wilderness of Sin
About a month after leaving Egypt, the Israelites arrived in the desert, and their provisions began to run out.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israelites Murmur for Food
Facing starvation, the Israelites complained bitterly to Moses and Aaron, longing for the food they had in Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
God Promises Manna
The LORD responded to the people's complaints by promising to rain bread from heaven, the manna, as a test of their obedience.
c. 1446 BC
First Manna Appears
In the morning, a fine, flaky substance, the manna, covered the ground around the camp, fulfilling God's promise.
c. 1446 BC
Instructions for Manna Collection
Moses relayed God's instructions for the people to gather only a day's portion of manna each day, with a special provision for the Sabbath.
This passage describes Jesus referencing the manna as 'bread from heaven' given by Moses, but Jesus clarifies that the true bread from heaven is Himself, highlighting a spiritual parallel to the physical provision in Exodus.
Psalm 78:24This Psalm recounts God raining down 'bread from heaven' and 'corn of heaven,' directly echoing the language and event of the manna, emphasizing God's miraculous provision and the people's response.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3This passage speaks of God leading Israel in the wilderness to humble and test them, feeding them with 'manna, which you had not known,' revealing that the purpose of the provision was to teach them dependence on God's word.
Nehemiah 9:15This prayer remembers how God provided 'bread from the heavens' for His people in their hunger, directly aligning with the Exodus account and emphasizing God's faithfulness despite their rebellion.
1 Corinthians 10:3-4The Apostle Paul interprets the manna as 'spiritual food' and connects it to Christ, showing that this physical bread from heaven was a sign pointing to the greater spiritual nourishment found in Jesus.
gillExodus 16:4: "Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no."
Then said the Lord unto Moses,.... Who no doubt had been praying to him, as was his usual manner, when the people were in distress and complained, and was heard and answered by him: behold: I will rain bread from heaven for you; though they were a murmuring, rebellious, and un…
cambridgeExodus 16:4: "Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no."
4 . Then ] The Heb. is simply, And (Jehovah said &c.). rain , &c.] Cf. Psalm 78:24 f. (‘rained,’ ‘corn of heaven,’ ‘bread of the mighty,’ i.e. angels), Psalm 105:40 (‘bread of heaven‘), Nehemiah 9:15 , Wis 16:20 ( ἀγγέλων τροφή , ‘angels’ food’), John 6:31 . that I may prove t…
What's so striking here is that God's provision of manna isn't just about filling their bellies; it's a deliberate test of their obedience. He's not only about to deliver them from hunger but also to see if they'll walk according to His direction, showing that divine provision is always intertwined with discipleship.
The Israelites have just arrived in the wilderness of Sin after leaving Elim, and the people are already complaining and murmuring against Moses and Aaron, wishing they had died in Egypt rather than starve in the desert. In response to their grumbling, God declares to Moses that He will provide food from heaven, a daily bread that will serve as a test of their obedience to His coming law. This divine provision is designed to reveal whether they will trust and follow Him.
The Israelites have just arrived in the wilderness of Sin after leaving Elim, and the people are already complaining and murmuring against Moses and Aaron, wishing they had died in Egypt rather than starve in the desert. In response to their grumbling, God declares to Moses that He will provide food from heaven, a daily bread that will serve as a test of their obedience to His coming law. This divine provision is designed to reveal whether they will trust and follow Him.
"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not." — What's so striking here is that God's provision of manna isn't just about filling their bellies; it's a deliberate test of their obedience. He's not only about to deliver them from hunger but also to…
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Last reviewed October 2026