上帝再一次挽救了以色列民：這次是解決他們的飢餓。以色列人離開埃及大約一個月之後，糧食幾乎吃盡了。他們回想起在埃及享受的美食，於是開始抱怨摩西，摩西責備他們，因為他們事實上是在抱怨上帝。的確，當信徒抱怨、不滿時，他們事實上是在抱怨上帝，因為上帝掌管所有的事，並且凡事都有祂的目的。聖經教導我們，不論我們處在何種景況都應知足，因為耶穌說：「我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你」（來13：5）。上帝既仁慈又憐憫，祂完全瞭解人的軟弱。祂沒有責備以色列人，而開始試驗並教導他們天天相信、倚賴神。為了預備他們接受神蹟，上帝在雲中顯現，有榮光照耀，益發顯出即將發佈的命令的重要性。

        上帝總是將最好的東西給祂的兒女，祂不只供應必需品，還顧及他們的享受。每天早晨上帝賜下新鮮的嗎哪，一種很特別的空降食物，晚上則給他們豐富的鵪鶉肉。這些奇妙的供應不只使他們得到養生，更重要的是要教導他們上帝的信實、美善、及讓他們明白上帝一直與他們同在。為了測驗他們是否誠心順服，上帝也有某些指示要他們遵守。不過，他們還是在安息日去撿拾嗎哪，因此上帝責備他們。上帝要祂的兒女順服，今天祂也同樣希望信徒順服祂。祂說：「你們不肯守我的誡命和律法要到幾時呢？」（16：28）這顯示以色列人已經知道有安息日這回事了。這是上帝完成祂的創造之工後所設立的（創2：2~3）；不過，在以色列人出埃及前，他們還沒有一個守安息日的特別方式。

        上帝將安息日賜給祂的贖民為禮物（16：29）：在他們開始下一個工作週以前，他們的肉體和心靈需要在這一天重新得力。今天的信徒也同樣需要將這特別的日子獻給主，敬拜祂、默想祂。

        嗎哪（意思是：「這是什麼？」）並非自然的現象，它是從上帝而來超自然的產物。在中東地區，某種樹上可以找到白色的物質。有些聖經註釋家想要淡化超自然的成分，便解釋說那種樹上的產物就是嗎哪。然而，兩者的差別遠超過它們相似之處。那種白色物質就像嗎哪一樣於早晨出現，在烈日下就消融，並且有甜味，不過，那是季節性的產物，只有在夏天才找得到。聖經中的嗎哪卻是四十年之久一年到頭都有；並且，像它奇蹟似的出現一樣，當以色列人一進入迦南地，嗎哪也隨即停止了。此外，上帝所賜的嗎哪遍地都有，而不只是在特定的樹上。今天貝都因人所撿拾的白色物質只能熬成蜂蜜，不能像當日以色列人一樣把嗎哪磨成粉，烤成麵包或餅，或將它煮熟（16：23）。

        很明顯的，嗎哪是上帝神奇的供應。另一個奇蹟是，嗎哪一旦隔夜（除了安息日外）就腐爛掉。嗎哪在安息日早晨不腐爛唯一的理由是，它們因上帝的話語被分別為聖了。七日裡又有六個晚上以色列人家中沒有囤放任何食物。他們必須學習知足，並且相信上帝一定會在第二天清晨有所供應。

        在聖經裡，嗎哪是三種屬天恩賜的象徵，也是我們走在這個世界曠野時心靈的支柱和安慰：（1）耶穌──上帝最寶貴的禮物──視嗎哪為祂自己的縮影，因為祂是從天而降的生命真糧（約6：31~35）。任何人在耶穌裡都能得著完全的滿足。（2）上帝的話語。嗎哪象徵能滋養我們心靈的道（參太4：4；申8：3）。（3）對得勝的人而言，聖靈所賜的獎賞和安慰就是那「隱藏的嗎哪」（啟2：17）。

        我們的主，您已經供應我們每天所需，更謝謝您賜給我們生命的糧──耶穌。幫助我們天天憑信心藉著禱告和讀經來「享用」祂。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

         Once again the Lord preserved the children of Israel: this time from hunger. About one month after leaving Egypt, food was scarce. Upon remembering the good food they enjoyed in Egypt, they began to complain against God. It is true that when believers complain and are discontent, they are actually complaining against God, for He has a purpose and is in control of all things. The Bible teaches that whatever our state, we are to be content, for Jesus said “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). God is kind and compassionate, and fully understands human weakness. Rather than rebuking the Israelites, He began to test and teach them to daily trust and depend on Him. To prepare them for the miracle, there was the unmistakable evidence of the Lord’s presence in the cloud which probably had an unusual shining radiance to show them the importance of what was to be said.

        God always gives the best to His children, not only for necessity, but for delight as well. Each morning He gave them their new staple of manna, a special food from heaven, and each evening He gave them fowl in abundance. These miraculous provisions not only gave them sustenance, but, more importantly, taught His faithfulness, goodness, and constant divine presence among them. Certain instructions were to be followed serving to test their obedience. However, when they gathered manna on the Sabbath the Lord rebuked them. He desired obedience from His children, just as He expects it from believers today. He said, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?” (16:28). This shows that the Sabbath was already known. It had been instituted by God after His work of creation (Genesis 2:2-3); however, previous to that time it had not been observed in any special way.

        God gave the Sabbath to His redeemed people as a gift (16:29); a day they needed to be refreshed, both physically and spiritually, before the work week began. Believers today, as well, need to dedicate this special day to the Lord in worship and meditation on Him.

        The manna (meaning, “what is it?”) was not a natural phenomenon; it came supernaturally from God. In the Middle East there is a white substance that is found on a particular kind of tree. Some Bible commentators, trying to explain away the supernatural have said this is the same as the manna of the Bible. However the differences far outweigh any similarities. Like the manna of the Bible this white substance comes in the early morning, melts in the hot sun and has a sweet flavor, however it is seasonal, found only in the summer. The manna of the Bible was gathered all year round for 40 years until, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it miraculously stopped when the Israelites entered Canaan. It was found everywhere on the ground, not just on certain trees. The white substance that some Bedouins gather today can only be boiled down to make a sweet syrup; it cannot be ground or baked into bread or cakes as the Israelites had done, as well as boiling it (16:23).

        Clearly, the manna was a divine and miraculous provision from God. Another miracle was that if the manna was kept overnight, except on the Sabbath, it would spoil. The only reason it did not spoil on the morning of the Sabbath was that it was sanctified by God’s word. Six nights out of seven the people went to bed without any of their staple food in the house. They had to learn contentment and trust God to supply in the morning.

        In the Bible, manna is a symbol of three heavenly gifts from God which are our spiritual support and comfort while we are in the wilderness of this world: (1) Jesus, the most precious gift from God, regarded manna as a shadow of Himself, the true Bread of life from heaven (John 6:31-35). Anyone coming to Him will be fully satisfied. (2) The World of God, by which our souls are nourished, is pictured in the manna (see Matthew; Deuteronomy 8:3). And (3) for those who overcome, the reward and comforts of the Spirit are “hidden manna” (Revelation 2:17).

        Our Lord, You have made daily provision for us. Thank You for the bread of Life, our Lord Jesus. Help us to partake of Him, by faith daily through prayer and reading His Word.