John Calvin Commentary Exodus 16:4

"Then said Jehovah unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day`s portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not." — Exodus 16:4 (ASV)

Then said the Lord unto Moses. It is probable that Moses passes over much in silence, because it is unlikely that the insolence of the people was left without even a single word of chastisement. For, although God in His extraordinary kindness gave food to these depraved and wicked men, who were unworthy of the sunlight and the common air, yet He was undoubtedly unwilling to foster their sin by His silence. While He pardoned their ingratitude, He sharply reproved their presumption.

But Moses, passing over this, proceeds to a history especially worthy of telling: how God fed this wretched people with bread from heaven, when He caused the manna to fall from the clouds like dew.

I call it “the bread of heaven,” with the Prophet (Psalms 78:24), who honors it with this magnificent title and praises God’s bounty toward His people, as if they had been admitted to the tables of angels.

For St. Paul calls the manna “spiritual meat” (1 Corinthians 10:3) in another sense, namely, because it was a type of the flesh of Christ, which feeds our minds toward the hope of eternal life.

The Prophet, however, makes no allusion to that mystery, but in this circumstance brings an accusation against the people: they not only despised the food that springs from the earth but also were disgusted with that bread for which they saw the heavens, in a way, opened.

But more must be said on this point later. God now declares that He will give them their daily allowance, so to speak, so that in this way He might test the obedience of His people.

However, on this latter point, interpreters do not agree. Some understand it as if God, by kindly providing food for the Israelites, would bind them to obedience by His bounty, as if He were to say, “I will test whether they are completely unmanageable or submissive, for nothing will be lacking to keep them in the way of duty.”

But others limit the meaning of the word to “their daily food.” For this was the test of their fear and reverence: that they should not desire more than was given them, but that they should be content with their daily provision and thus depend on God’s providence.

The first interpretation seems best to me, and I have endeavored to explain it more clearly than it might be understood from others.

There is no need to enter into controversy about the word “Law,”¹⁷¹ for (as we will soon see) it is used to express the measure or rule of a pious and just life.

Therefore, He says that He will know whether they are disposed to honor Him and to submit themselves to His command. But if anyone prefers to accept the other interpretation, I leave him to his own opinion.

¹⁷¹ “Some refer this probation or trial to that particular law and precept of gathering but a certain portion of manna every day. So Vatablus, Borrha, Galas.., Tostat.., Rupert. Some understand it as well of that precept, as of the other, not to gather any upon the Sabbath. — . Some understand it as well of that precept, as of the other, not to gather any upon the Sabbath. — Simler. Some will have it taken more largely of all the precepts, and commandments touching manna, which were eight in all. — . Some will have it taken more largely of all the precepts, and commandments touching manna, which were eight in all. — Lyranus. But it is better to take it in a more general sense. The Lord, as he had tried them before with crosses and adversities, so now he would prove them by His benefits, to see whether they will afterward walk in His fear, and in obedience before Him. So . But it is better to take it in a more general sense. The Lord, as he had tried them before with crosses and adversities, so now he would prove them by His benefits, to see whether they will afterward walk in His fear, and in obedience before Him. So Ferus, , Calvin, , Osiand., ., Pelarg. And thus by this particular benefit God would prepare them to the obedience of His law, which should be given afterwards. — . And thus by this particular benefit God would prepare them to the obedience of His law, which should be given afterwards. — Oleaster.” — .” — Willet’s Hexapla in loco.