New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996

Exodus 16

1 The whole community of Israel started out from Elim. They came to the Desert of Sin. It was between Elim and Sinai. They arrived there on the 15th day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 📍 Locations

📍 Sin 📍 Sinai

2 In the desert the whole community told Moses and Aaron they weren't happy with them. Reference

Parallel theme

1 Corinthians 10:10 Psalm 106:25 Psalm 106:7

References Moses

Exodus 15:24

3 The Israelites said to them, "We wish the Lord had put us to death in Egypt. There we sat around pots of meat. We ate all of the food we wanted. But you have brought us out into this desert. You must want this entire community to die of hunger." Reference

Parallel theme

Lamentations 4:9

References Egypt

Exodus 17:3

References God

Deuteronomy 28:67 Numbers 14:2 1 Corinthians 4:8 Joshua 7:7

4 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people must go out each day. Have them gather enough bread for that day. Here is how I will put them to the test. I will see if they will follow my directions. Reference

Parallel theme

1 Corinthians 10:3 Psalm 105:40

References Lord

Exodus 15:25

Word

Deuteronomy 8:2

5 "On the sixth day they must prepare what they bring in. On that day they must gather twice as much as on the other days."

6 So Moses and Aaron spoke to all of the people of Israel. They said, "In the evening you will know that the Lord brought you out of Egypt. Reference

References Lord

Exodus 6:7 Numbers 16:30 Numbers 16:28

7 And in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord. He has heard you say you aren't happy with him. Who are we? Why are you telling us you aren't happy with us?" Reference

Glory

Isaiah 40:5 Isaiah 35:2 Exodus 40:34 Exodus 16:10 John 11:4 John 11:40 Numbers 14:10 Numbers 16:42 Exodus 24:16

References Lord

Numbers 16:11

8 Moses also said, "You will know that the Lord has heard you speak against him. He will give you meat to eat in the evening. He'll give you all of the bread you want in the morning. But who are we? You aren't speaking against us. You are speaking against the Lord." Reference

Parallel theme

Romans 13:2 1 Thessalonians 4:8 Luke 10:16 Numbers 14:27

References Lord

1 Samuel 8:7 Numbers 21:7

9 Then Moses told Aaron, "Talk to the whole community of Israel. Say to them, 'Come to the Lord. He has heard you speak against him.' " Reference

References Lord

Numbers 16:16

10 While Aaron was talking to the whole community of Israel, they looked toward the desert. There was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud! Reference

Glory

Exodus 16:7 Numbers 16:19 Numbers 16:42 Leviticus 9:6

11 The Lord said to Moses,

12 "I have heard the people of Israel talking about how unhappy they are. Tell them, 'When the sun goes down, you will eat meat. In the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.' " Reference

References God

Joel 3:17 Exodus 6:7 Ezekiel 39:22

13 That evening quail came and covered the camp. In the morning the ground around the camp was covered with dew. Reference

Parallel theme

Numbers 11:9 Psalm 105:40

14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes appeared on the desert floor. They looked like frost on the ground. Reference

Parallel theme

Psalm 78:24 Psalm 105:40 Nehemiah 9:15 Deuteronomy 8:3

15 The people of Israel saw the flakes. They asked each other, "What's that?" They didn't know what it was. Moses said to them, "It's the bread the Lord has given you to eat. Reference

Parallel theme

John 6:58 Nehemiah 9:20 Nehemiah 9:15 1 Corinthians 10:3 John 6:49

References Israel

Exodus 16:31 Joshua 5:12

References Lord

Exodus 16:4 Deuteronomy 8:3 Exodus 16:33

16 Here is what the Lord has commanded. He has said, 'Each one of you should gather as much as you need. Take two quarts for each person who lives in your tent.' " Reference

Parallel theme

Exodus 16:36

17 The people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, and some gathered a little.

18 When they measured it out, those who gathered a lot didn't have too much. And those who gathered a little had enough. All of them gathered only what they needed.

19 Then Moses said to them, "Don't keep any of it until morning." Reference

Parallel theme

Exodus 23:18 Exodus 12:10 Matthew 6:34

20 Some of them didn't pay any attention to Moses. They kept part of it until morning. But it was full of maggots and began to stink. So Moses became angry with them.

21 Each morning all of them gathered as much as they needed. But by the hottest time of the day, the thin flakes had melted away.

22 On the sixth day, the people gathered twice as much. It amounted to four quarts for each person. The leaders of the community came and reported that to Moses. Reference

Parallel theme

Exodus 16:5

23 He said to them, "Here is what the Lord commanded. He said, 'Tomorrow will be a day of rest. It will be a holy Sabbath day. It will be set apart for the Lord. So bake what you want to bake. Boil what you want to boil. Save what is left. Keep it until morning.' " Reference

Holy

Leviticus 23:3 Exodus 31:15

Parallel theme

Exodus 23:12 Luke 23:56

24 So they saved it until morning, just as Moses commanded. It didn't stink or get maggots in it. Reference

References Moses

Exodus 16:20

25 "Eat it today," Moses said. "Today is a Sabbath day in the Lord's honor. You won't find any flakes on the ground today. Reference

References Lord

Exodus 16:23 Exodus 16:29

References Moses

Nehemiah 9:14

26 Gather them for six days. But on the seventh day there won't be any. It's the Sabbath."

27 In spite of what Moses said, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather the flakes. But they didn't find any.

28 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "How long will all of you refuse to obey my commands and my teachings? Reference

Parallel theme

Psalm 106:13 Ezekiel 20:13

References Lord

2 Kings 17:14 Numbers 14:11

Word

Psalm 78:10

29 Keep in mind that I have given you the Sabbath day. That is why on the sixth day I give you bread for two days. All of you must stay where you are on the seventh day. No one can go out." Reference

Parallel theme

Luke 23:56

References Lord

Exodus 31:13 Ezekiel 20:12

30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seeds. It tasted like wafers that were made with honey. Reference

Song of Solomon 2:3

References Israel

Exodus 16:15

32 Moses said, "Here is what the Lord has commanded. He has said, 'Get two quarts of manna. Keep it for all time to come. Then those who live after you will see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert. I gave it to you when I brought you out of Egypt.' " Reference

Parallel theme

Psalm 105:5 Luke 22:19

33 So Moses said to Aaron, "Get a jar. Put two quarts of manna in it. Then place it in front of the Lord. Keep it there for all time to come." Reference

Parallel theme

Hebrews 9:4

34 Aaron did exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the manna in front of the tablets of the covenant. He put it there so it would be kept for all time to come. Reference

Witness

Exodus 27:21 Exodus 25:21 Exodus 25:16 Exodus 40:20 Numbers 17:10 Exodus 30:36 Exodus 31:18 Exodus 30:6

35 The people of Israel ate manna for 40 years. They ate it until they came to a land that was settled. They ate it until they reached the border of Canaan. Reference

References Israel

Joshua 5:12

36 The jar had an omer of manna in it. An omer was two quarts. Reference

Parallel theme

Exodus 16:16

Chapter Summary

Exodus 16 tells how God provides food for the Israelites in the wilderness, but also teaches them a lesson to trust in God's provision for their daily needs. The Israelites have left Elim and are heading towards the wilderness of Sin, a wilderness that is between Elim and Mount Sinai. They have wandered in this wilderness for about a month since they left Egypt.

When the Israelites go into the wilderness, they become hungry. The whole congregation complains about Moses and Aaron. The Israelites remember the food in Egypt and accuse Moses and Aaron that it would have been better to die in Egypt than to die in the wilderness of starvation.

The Israelites forget that Egypt was the very place where they were in bondage. Their hunger makes them look back to Egypt and remember only their food. The Israelites' fear and frustration leads them to question if God will still continue to provide.

Moses reminds the people that God will provide food for the people, but God says that He will rain down bread for the people. Each day they are to gather together enough for that day and on the sixth day, twice as much for the seventh day when they are to cease working.

God is testing the Israelites if they will obey Him and trust Him to provide for their needs.

Moses and Aaron tell the Israelites that the people are actually complaining against the Lord. Moses assures the Israelites that the Lord has heard their complaints and will prove to them that it is the Lord who has brought them out of Egypt.

As Aaron is speaking to the people, they look up towards the wilderness and see the Glory of the Lord shining in the heavens. God tells Moses that He has heard the people's complaints and that He will prove to them that He will provide meat for them in the evening and bread for them in the morning.

That evening quails come into the camp and surround the Israelites. The Israelites have meat for their meal. In the morning the Israelites find that where the dew had been, there is a small round substance on the ground. The Israelites do not know what it is, so they call this substance manna, which in their tongue means something like 'what is this?'. Moses tells them that this is the bread of the Lord that they are to eat, and that each one is to take whatever allotment he needs. Each one is to take enough for their household.

The Israelites gather the manna and when the amount is measured those who took more did not have more, but those who took less did not have less. Everyone has enough.

Moses warns the people not to take more than enough for one day. Some of the people ignore Moses' warning and take some of the manna and store it for the next day, but when they do this the manna has become covered with worms and stinks. Moses becomes angry with those who went against his warning.

However, on the sixth day the people take twice as much manna as they usually do. Moses tells them that the next day is the Sabbath, a holy day of rest, and that they must prepare their food before hand since there will be no manna on the Sabbath. Nevertheless, some of the Israelites go out on the Sabbath day in search of manna, but they find none. God questions how long the people will refuse to keep His commandments and instructions.

The Israelites are to make the Sabbath a day of rest and stay in their place of dwelling for the day.

God directs Moses to reserve manna as a memorial for future generations so that the people will know how He fed them in the wilderness. The people are to keep an amount of manna from each day as a reminder for future generations of Israel. The people eat manna for forty years until they reach the border of the land of Canaan. The chapter ends by describing that an omer of manna is about the tenth part of an ephah.

Exodus 16's main message is that God provides for his people and teaches them to trust Him to provide their daily needs and not to be controlled by their fears and worries. The Israelites have just seen God's power over the Red Sea, but when the Israelites become hungry they quickly forget what God has done for them.

God answers their complaints by giving them meat and bread, but the manna becomes a daily reminder that their survival depends upon God's provision. The people are not allowed to store up great amounts, but they are to learn to trust God each day to provide.

The instructions about gathering the manna also speak of obedience. The Israelites must take the right amount and obey God's instructions about how they should keep the manna. This obedience is part of the test that God is giving to the people.

Another lesson from this passage is the Sabbath. The Israelites are learning that they do not have to work every day, but God will provide enough for them on the sixth day so that they can rest on the seventh day.

The manna also teaches the Israelites that God cares about their practical needs. He is not only concerned about their spiritual needs, but God provides for their bodies and gives them a systematic way of living.

This passage teaches us of the difference between trusting God and controlling everything ourselves. When some of the Israelites keep manna overnight or search for it on the Sabbath, they are showing us that they do not yet trust God's ability to provide.

The command for the Israelites to preserve manna for their future generations is important, since God wants Israel to remember how He provided for them in the wilderness. The Israelites will need this memory when they are faced with future problems.

The forty years of manna also teaches us that God's provision is not something that is temporary. God is feeding His people throughout their wilderness sojourn.

God provides for the needs of his people.

We must trust God and not allow fear to overcome us.

It is so easy to forget how God has provided for us when we are faced with a new problem.

God sometimes teaches us to trust Him for each day, and not to try to control everything ourselves.

We must obey even though we do not always understand.

God provides enough for what we need.

We should rest and God has given the Sabbath for our rest.

We must not allow ourselves to be overcome by worry and think that we must control everything.

Remembering how God has provided will help us to trust Him in future struggles.

God's caring for Israel continues even when the people complain and refuse to trust in God.

Exodus 16 teaches Israel that their freedom from Egypt must be followed by a time of learning daily dependence, obedience, gratitude and trust in God.