Exodus 16:12

have heard the murmurings.

The murmurings described in verses 2, 3--verses that describe the same people who had seen all the first-born of Egypt perish in. single night, virtually wishing that they had died in the same manner; where the very people who had groaned and cried from the Egyptian bondage now magnify the plenty of Egypt, and are willing to return to bondage that they might obtain the food of its fleshpots.

At even ye shall eat flesh.

At even the quails came and covered the camp. They came up from the Arabian gulf, across which they fly in great numbers in the spring, and are often so fatigued after their passage, and fly so low, as to become an easy prey, wherever they alight (See Psalms 78:27).

In the morning ye shall be filled with bread.

This refers to the manna which fell with the dew, and was left behind when the dew dried up. There was left. "small, round thing, as small as hoar-frost, upon the ground,". fine powdered substance, probably in appearance resembling flour.

Ye shall know that. am the Lord your God.

That. am Jehovah, the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and your God as the heirs of the covenant. In this supply of food there will be proof positive that the same God who led them out of Egypt is still watching over them and preserving them in the desert. When they are filled by his hand all distrust will pass away until they have. new trial. They were probably not worse or weaker than the mass of Christian worshipers, who lose courage and faith whenever the clouds of misfortune or calamity gather around them.

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

God feeds his people whether the food be gathered into the granaries from rich harvests, or they be miraculously provided for in the desert. In him we live and move and have our being.

God, who bared his hand to feed Israel on the march to Canaan, so feeds us as we march to the heavenly Canaan. They axe sustained on the Bread of Life, the Bread of God, the Bread that came down from heaven.

How weak the faith of Israel, but perhaps no weaker than ours. They could believe in the Lord while all was bright and prosperous, but their faith would fail at the time of trial.

People are more clamorous for earthly bread than anxious concerning food for their souls. Ver. 2, 3.

God feeds his people not with the bread made on earth, but prepared by his own hands from heavenly materials.

Like the manna, the supply of grace must daily be renewed; the food of the soul for one day will not suffice for another.

The divine supply is abundant, yet individual; there is enough for all, but each must gather for himself.

They were destitute of all visible means of substance, and cut off from every visible comfort, with only the promise of an unseen God to look to as the ground of their hope. And though we may lament they should tempt God in the wilderness, and freely admit their sin in so doing, we can be at no loss for. reason why those who had all their lives been accustomed to walk by sight should, in circumstances of unparalleled difficulty and perplexity, find it hard to walk by faith. Do not even we find it difficult to walk by faith through the wilderness of this world, though in the light of. clearer revelation, and under. nobler leader than Moses?-- Fisk.

THE MANNA AND CHRIST.--Notice some points of analogy between the manna and Christ: (1) It was indispensable, Israel would have perished without it. Comp. John 6:53. (2) It was. free gift "without money and without price." Comp. Isaiah 55:1; Romans 6:23. (3) It had to be gathered; had the Israelites refused to gather it, or not thought it worth while to do so, what use would it have been to them? Comp. John 5:40. (4) It had to be gathered daily, that the people might not lose the sense of their sole dependence on God. So we need to come to Christ every day for fresh grace, not trusting in what we did yesterday, or felt last week. (5) It had to be gathered early, before the sun melted it. So to secure our spiritual food we must seek it in the morning of life, and in the literal morning of each day we live, before business or pleasure prevents our getting it at all. "Those who seek Me early shall find me." (6) There was enough for all. See the "every one" of Isaiah 55:1. the "all ye" of Matthew 11:28. the "whosoever" of John 3:16, and Revelation 22:17.-- E. Stock.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Review the situation, Israel across the Red Sea, the danger from Egypt over; another danger more terrible. 2. Consider the conduct of the people, their failure of faith, their despair, their murmurings against Moses and Aaron, their longings for Egypt. 3. Point out that unless they could walk by faith, no hope, the foodless desert, no cities or granaries near, their little ones crying for food. None but the Lord can deliver, and their faith has failed. 4. Bring out the Lord's promise. He will rain bread., He can do it as easily as to grow it in the field. He will provide. 5. Show that his people are safe in any environment where they are led by doing his will. The Lord has led them into the desert and will feed them there. 6. Point out the communication of the Lord to the people. To draw near; the glorious pillar shining with the divine glory;. supernatural resplendence that rebukes the murmurs of the people that the Lord would fail them. 7. Show how the promise was fulfilled; how flesh was given; how the bread from heaven came; describe these and the miracle. 8. Bring out the True Bread from heaven of which the manna was. type, and its superiority. Manna might sustain life, but could not give it or keep people from dying finally, but the True Bread gives life; they who eat shall live forever. 9. Show that only the True Bread will satisfy the soul's hunger. Christ that Bread; eaten by faith and obedience to his will.