In Exodus chapter 16, we read about Israel’s hunger, its complaint, and God’s merciful solution. God gave His people manna from Heaven. Just as God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), manna was available for each morning. And just as God was faithful to feed the people physically each day, so is Christ faithful to feed us spiritually each day as we seek Him. The shape of the manna was round which spoke to Jesus’ perfection (Hebrews 5:9). The color of the manna was white, speaking to the purity of Jesus, (1 John 3:3). The taste of the manna was sweet like honey, just as it is sweet when we partake of the Lord (Psalm 34:8). The origin of the manna was Heaven. Jesus did not originate in Heaven—He’s eternal—but He left Heaven to come to us (John 3:13). The position of the manna was that it was found on the ground. This is a portrait of the humility of Christ (Philippians 2:8). There are many correlations to the table of showbread from the temple in relation to Jesus as well, but let’s look at one specific point: the position. While the manna was found on the ground, picturing Jesus’ humiliation, the showbread was up off the ground on a table. This pictures Jesus’ glorification, the risen Savior in Heaven at the Father’s right hand. Lastly, there is the result of the manna. The manna sustained the life of the Israelites as they consumed it. For us, when we appropriate Christ—when we take Him in—He gives us life. Just as the Israelites received physical life-giving properties from the manna, we receive spiritual life-giving properties from the One who is life, Jesus. John 6:35 says, “And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” (See also John 3:16 and John 11:35.)
