Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 16

The provisions of Israel, brought from Egypt, were spent by the middle of the second month, and they murmured. It is nothing new for the greatest kindness to be shamefully misrepresented as the greatest injuries. They undervalued their deliverance so much that they wished they had died in Egypt; and by the hand of the Lord—that is, by the plagues that cut off the Egyptians.

We cannot suppose they had plenty in Egypt, nor could they fear dying from want in the wilderness while they had flocks and herds. No one talks more absurdly than murmurers. When we begin to fret, we ought to consider that God hears all our murmurings. God promises a speedy and constant supply.

He tested whether they would trust him, and rest satisfied with the bread of the day in its day. In this way, he tested if they would serve him, and it became clear how ungrateful they were. When God plagued the Egyptians, it was to let them know he was their Lord; when he provided for the Israelites, it was to let them know he was their God.

At evening the quails came up, and the people caught with ease as many as they needed. The manna came down in dew. They called it “Manna, Manhu,” which means, “What is this?” “It is a portion; it is that which our God has allotted us, and we will take it, and be thankful.” It was pleasant food; it was wholesome food.

The manna was rained from heaven; it appeared, when the dew was gone, as a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost, like coriander seed, in color like pearls. The manna fell only six days in the week, and in double quantity on the sixth day; it bred worms and became offensive if kept more than one day, except on the Sabbath. The people had never seen it before.

It could be ground in a mill, or beaten in a mortar, and was then made into cakes and baked. It continued the forty years the Israelites were in the wilderness, wherever they went, and ceased when they arrived in Canaan. All this shows how different it was from anything found before, or found now.

They were to gather the manna every morning. We are by this taught:

1. To be prudent and diligent in providing food for ourselves and our households; working with quietness, and eating our own bread, not the bread of idleness or deceit. God's bounty leaves room for human duty; it did so even when manna was rained. They must not eat until they have gathered.
2. To be content with enough. Those who have most, have for themselves only food and clothing; those who have least, generally have these. So he who gathers much has nothing over, and he who gathers little has no lack. There is not such a disproportion between one and another in the enjoyment of the things of this life, as in the mere possession of them.
3. To depend upon Providence: let them sleep quietly, even though they have no bread in their tents, nor in their entire camp, trusting that God, with the following day, would bring them their daily bread. It was surer and safer in God's storehouse than in their own, and would come from there sweeter and fresher.

See here the folly of hoarding. The manna laid up by some, who thought themselves wiser, and better managers, than their neighbors, and who would provide lest it should fail next day, bred worms, and became good for nothing. That will prove to be most wasted, which is covetously and distrustfully spared. Such riches are corrupted (James 5:2, 3). The same wisdom, power, and goodness that brought food daily from above for the Israelites in the wilderness, brings food yearly out of the earth in the constant course of nature, and gives us all things richly to enjoy.

Mention is made here of a seventh-day sabbath. It was known not only before the giving of the law upon Mount Sinai but also before the bringing of Israel out of Egypt, even from the beginning (Genesis 2:3). The setting apart of one day in seven for holy work, and for that purpose, for holy rest, has been established ever since God created humanity upon the earth, and is the most ancient of the Divine laws. In appointing them to rest on the seventh day, He took care that they would be no losers by it; and no one will ever be a loser by serving God.

On that day they were to gather enough for two days and prepare it. This directs us to arrange family affairs so that they may hinder us as little as possible in the work of the sabbath. Works of necessity are to be done on that day; but it is desirable to have as little to do as possible, so that we may apply ourselves more closely to prepare for the life that is to come.

When they kept manna against a command, it stank; when they kept it by a command, it was sweet and good. Everything is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. On the seventh day God did not send the manna; therefore, they were not to expect it, nor go out to gather. This showed that it was produced by a miracle.

God having provided manna to be his people's food in the wilderness, its remembrance was to be preserved. Eaten bread must not be forgotten. God's miracles and mercies are to be remembered. The word of God is the manna by which our souls are nourished (Matthew 4:4). The comforts of the Spirit are hidden manna (Revelation 2:17). These come from heaven, as the manna did, and are the support and comfort of the Divine life in the soul, while we are in the wilderness of this world.

Christ in the word is to be applied to the soul, and the means of grace are to be used. We must every one of us gather for ourselves, and gather in the morning of our days, the morning of our opportunities; if we let them slip, it may be too late to gather. The manna must not be hoarded up, but eaten; those who have received Christ must by faith live on him, and not receive his grace in vain.

There was manna enough for all, enough for each, and none had too much; so in Christ there is enough, but not more than we need. But those who ate manna hungered again, died at last, and with many of them God was not well pleased; whereas those who feed on Christ by faith shall never hunger and shall die no more, and with them God will be forever well pleased. Let us seek earnestly for the grace of the Holy Spirit, to turn all our knowledge of the doctrine of Christ crucified into the spiritual nourishment of our souls by faith and love.