Exodus 16

Daily Bread

_{Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people will go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. ~ Exodus 16:4}

Have you ever had times in your life when it seemed like you had just enough to get by but never more than that? A time when you wished for a little extra comfort, stability, or security, but God only gave you what you needed for the day? Those moments can feel frustrating, yet they are often the places where faith grows the most.

In Exodus 16, the Israelites had just come out of Egypt and were traveling through the wilderness. They were tired, hungry, and uncertain about what would come next. Instead of trusting the God who had delivered them, they began to complain. But even in their grumbling, God responded with mercy. He sent manna from heaven.  It was bread that appeared every morning, just enough for each day. God provided what they needed when they needed it, teaching them to depend on Him daily rather than on their own efforts.

I remember a time when I was going through a difficult season financially. Every day felt like a test of faith, and I often worried about how things would work out. But each time a need arose, God made a way. Sometimes it was an unexpected gift, a new opportunity, or even just the peace that carried me through another day. I realized later that God was showing me how to trust Him in the same way He showed the Israelites. He wanted me to stop worrying about tomorrow and see that He is faithful to provide for today.

This passage is an encouragement in moments when life feels uncertain. God knows exactly what you need, and He provides it with perfect timing. The manna is an example that provision from God isn’t about abundance or excess but about daily dependence. When you stop trying to control everything and start trusting Him one day at a time, peace replaces worry and gratitude replaces fear.

Here are some practical ways to apply this message in your life:

• Start each morning by asking God to give you what you need for today.
• Keep a list of daily blessings to remind yourself that God’s provision is ongoing.
• When you start to worry about the future, pause and thank God for what He has already supplied today.
• Read Matthew 6:25–34 to strengthen your trust that God cares for your daily needs.
• Share with someone how God has provided for you recently and use it to encourage their faith.

Take a few moments today to pray, asking God to help you rest in His provision. Surrender your worries about tomorrow and focus on His goodness right now. If you find yourself in need, look for the “manna” He is providing. It might not look like what you expected, but it will be exactly what you need.

Today I want to encourage you to trust God for your daily bread. He is faithful to meet every need in His perfect timing. Whether you are waiting for breakthrough or walking through a wilderness season, know that God is not late, and He has not forgotten you. Just as He provided manna for the Israelites each morning, He will provide for you. Let your heart rest in His faithfulness and let today’s portion remind you that He is more than enough.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 16

1 And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt. 

2 Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 

3 And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. 

5 And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”

6 Then Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening you shall know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt. 

7 And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord; for He hears your complaints against the Lord. But what are we, that you complain against us?” 

8 Also Moses said, “This shall be seen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord.”

9 Then Moses spoke to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for He has heard your complaints.’ ” 

10 Now it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.

11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 

12 “I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”

13 So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp. 

14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground. 

15 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. 

16 This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’ ”

17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. 

18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. 

19 And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” 

20 Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 

21 So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted.

22 And so it was, on the sixth day, that they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. 

23 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’ ” 

24 So they laid it up till morning, as Moses commanded; and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. 

25 Then Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 

26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”

27 Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none. 

28 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws? 

29 See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” 

30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 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.

32 Then Moses said, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Fill an omer with it, to be kept for your generations, that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ ” 

33 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations.” 

34 As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept. 

35 And the children of Israel ate manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. 

36 Now an omer is one-tenth of an ephah.

Journal:

• In what area of my life am I struggling to trust God’s daily provision?
• How has God already shown His faithfulness in meeting my needs?
• What worries about tomorrow do I need to release to Him today?
• How can I show gratitude for the “manna” God has provided in this season?