'Like the manna that came down from heaven'

Exodus 16:15 (NKJV): So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.”

Exodus 16:31 then says, ‘And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey’. By the way, the word ‘manna’ here is ‘mawn’ in Hebrew, which simply means ‘What is it?’, and it comes from the word ‘mah’ in Hebrew, meaning ‘what’.

Indeed, Jesus was a 'sign' and a 'wonder' to the people when He came on earth some 2,000 years ago! Several times in the Scriptures can you find people saying (and asking) such about Jesus, for instance, “Who can this be?” (Luke 8:25), “Who is this who even forgives sins?” (Luke 7:49), or “We have seen strange and amazing things today!” (Luke 5:26).

In cross-reference, John 6:30-35 says, ‘Therefore they said to Jesus, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”’

Jesus is the bread of life, 'the manna that came down from heaven'!

Notice also that ‘manna’ wasn’t eaten just like that upon being gathered, but was ground, beaten and cooked. Here’s what Numbers 11:8 says, ‘The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil’. See the similarities between ‘manna’ and ‘Jesus’ (the 'bread') here? (read the characteristics below for details) One is in the Old Covenant, and one is in the New Covenant. ‘Manna’ is the ‘shadow’, and ‘Jesus’ is the 'substance'.

Here are some of the characteristics of ‘manna’ that points us to Jesus (the true bread from heaven):

1. White in color (Exodus 16:31) – The color ‘white’ here speaks of ‘spotless purity of Jesus’. The Bible says ‘He knew no sin’ (2 Corinthians 5:21), and ‘He is without sin’ (Hebrews 4:15).

2. Sweet to the taste, like honey (Exodus 16:31) – Jesus is described as ‘sweet to the taste’ in Song of Songs 2:3 that says, ‘Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste’. The ‘beloved’ here speaks of ‘Jesus’, who is the Lover of your soul.

3. It was ground, beaten, crushed, and baked (Numbers 11:8) – Notice Leviticus 2:1 says, ‘When anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour’. In order to get fine flour for the purpose of baking, the grain has to be first ‘ground, beaten, and crushed’. This speaks of ‘the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross’, where He became your ‘burnt offering’ (Leviticus 1) and ‘grain offering’ (Leviticus 2).

4. It was given in the night (Numbers 11:9) – It was during the hours of darkness that manna was sent from heaven to the Israelites. This speaks of ‘Jesus coming to your life in times of need’, when you are in the darkest of hours, helpless, and without strength. John 1:14 says, ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth’.

And interestingly, this ‘manna’ did not fall on the ground or dust (which speaks of ‘curse’, as written in Genesis 3:17), but on the dew! Numbers 11:9 says, ‘And when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it (the dew)’. 

Note: 'Dew' is defined as ‘tiny drops of moisture (water vapour in the air) condensed on cool surfaces in the night’.

You see, 'dew' cannot be created by man. It is created, given, and supplied by God, and God alone! 'Dew' here therefore speaks of God's grace (i.e. God's ability or God's supply). So, what does it mean here? Jesus (the true manna) came not with curse, but with His supply! In fact, He has carried all your curse when He died for you on the cross! (Galatians 3:13)

Know that He is indeed your unlimited Supply! In Philippians 4:19, the apostle Paul wrote, ‘And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus’. The word 'supply' here is 'pleroo' in Greek, which means ‘to furnish, to satisfy, to execute, to finish (a work), to fulfil, to complete, to perfect, to accomplish’.

And this 'supply' includes all the wisdom and discernment you need in making every decision in your life!

On the first Sunday of this month, I released these prophetic words to the congregation:

"Many of you are going to make major or key decisions in business, career, ministry, or even in your life this month. Look to Me, and I will supply you, like the manna that came down from heaven. I will even supply you with the wisdom and discernment that you need."

"In the midst of the storm and confusion, know that I am in the process of making your vision clearer than ever before. Allow Me to cleanse you and cause your conscience to be so clear, that you will move ahead without fear. Watch Me open new doors for you this month, even in ways that human cannot. Watch Me clear the path for you, and watch Me supply."

People of God, I pray that whatever decision (or decisions) you make in this crucial and important time and season of the Lord will eventually ‘catapult’ you into greater heights in your life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.