Manna In the Wilderness: What the Israelites Missed

“. . . who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end” Deuteronomy 8: 16. 

This passage is recounting God’s faithfulness to His people as they wandered through the desert for forty years on their way to the promise land. To read the entire chapter for context, click here.

The only time the Israelites ever had manna was in the desert. Once they got to the promise land the manna ceased because they didn’t need it anymore.

Manna was an actual wafer-like substance that tasted something like honey (Exodus 16: 31, 32). But it also represents the promises of God.

And once their promise was fulfilled, it was no longer relevant. I think manna can also represent revelation, insight and understanding of God’s word.

I’ve noticed in my own life that this too decreases once we’re out of the hot, dry, barren wasteland that represents extreme trials of our faith.

Unique Blessing of the Wilderness

We hate the wilderness, of course. And we beg and plead and bargain and whine until we get out of it. But the wilderness has unique and precious blessings that we won’t experience in the promise land.

And once we’re out of it, we’ll wish we appreciated them. Every season of life has a unique and invaluable set of blessings that we won’t find in any other season. And if we don’t appreciate them while we have the opportunity, they’re lost forever.

Kind of like how you don’t get your youth or your children’s youth or your health back if you squander it.

In the wilderness, the Lord reveals Himself to us in awesome ways. And causes us to know His ways. He reveals powerful truths to us that will change our lives. And prepare of for our promise land.

In the wilderness we’re hurting. Our needs aren’t met in natural, tangible ways. And we experience a contradiction of God’s promises. After all, Israel’s wilderness was about as far from a “land flowing with milk and honey” as you could get.

But “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” Psalm 34: 18. When we gain in one realm we lose in the other. When we lose natural blessings and experience loss, we gain in the spiritual realm. At least the opportunity is there in a way it wouldn’t be otherwise.

Manna Instead of Leeks and Onions

The Israelites experienced loss in the wilderness. They were missing their leeks and onions and melons (Numbers 11: 5). In place of these, God gave them bread from heaven- supernatural provision.

They lost natural provisions but gained spiritual ones. It was an invaluable opportunity to gain in the spiritual realm.

So, they really didn’t lose anything in the absolute sense. The gain was just transferred from one realm to another.

Manna Represented No Absolute Loss for the Israelites

But if we don’t appreciate and embrace the opportunity for spiritual gain during natural loss, we will experience absolute loss.

Because we won’t receive insight and revelation and wisdom. We won’t come to know the Lord and His ways. We won’t be delivered from our sin. And we won’t be prepared for our promise land.

Every experience (not just good ones) is an opportunity for gain IF we embrace it. But it takes faith to embrace spiritual gain because it comes on the heels of natural loss.

It doesn’t look like anything good could possibly come from this loss. Unless we BELIEVE “that for those who love God ALL things work together for good. . . ” Romans 8: 28. And unless we know “the testing of our faith produces steadfastness” James 1: 3.

To read another post related to Manna In the Wilderness: What the Israelites Missed, see God’s Promises and the Unexpected Path to Get There.