BIBLE SERMON ” MANNA “ 1. The manna was a supernatural gift. Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you (v. 4). This is the first great lesson which the manna is designed to teach us. The manna was not a product of the earth; it was not manufactured by man; it was not something which Israel brought with them out of Egypt——there was no manna there. Instead, it came down from heaven. It was a gift from God. (jesus) 2. The manna came right to where the people were. And in the morning the dew lay round about the host; and when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing 3. The manna was small in size And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground (v. 14) Observe that not only is the size but also the shape of the manna is given. It was a small round thing It had no angles and no rough edges. Continuing to regard the manna as a symbol and a type of the Word of God It tells us that the Bible is a perfect whole, complete and entire 4. The manna was white in color. And the house of Israel called the name thereof manna: and it was like coriander seed, white (v. 31). Everything here has a spiritual significance. The Holy Spirit had a good reason for telling us the particular color of the manna. There is nothing meaningless in Scripture anywhere .Everything in God’’s Word has a value and message for us. white is the emblem of purity. Thus we have emphasized the absolute purity of the Word of God. Let us link together three Scriptures. The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times (Ps. 12:6): 5. The manna was to be eaten. This brings us to the central and most important point in connection with our type. The manna was not given simply to look at, or admire; but to be eaten. It was for food. It was God’s provision to meet the bodily need of His people Israel. It is thus with the spiritual manna. God’s Word is to be turned to practical account. 6. The manna was gathered daily. Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold I will rain bread from Heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day (v. 4). The manna which Israel gathered today would not suffice them for tomorrow. A new supply must be secured each day. The spiritual application of this is very evident. The soul requires the same systematic attention as does the body, and if this be neglected and our spiritual meals are taken irregularly. the results will be equally disastrous. 7. The manna was gathered in the morning. And in the morning the dew lay round about the host. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing (vv. 13 14). Here is a lesson which all of us need to seriously take to heart. It was in the early morning, before other things had time to occupy their attention, that God’s people of old gathered their daily supply of the manna. And this is recorded for our learning. The Divine Word must not be given a secondary place if we would have God’s blessing upon us. Seek ye first the kingdom 8. The manna was obtained by labor. We are reminded by the gathering of it of the Lord’s words, ‘‘Labor for the meat.’’ They did not indeed labor to bring it from Heaven: their labor was to gather it when rained down to them from thence of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) If they were not out early and the sun rose upon it, it melted. And here is where diligence on our part is so much needed. Would that we understood this, beloved brethren, better! Manna did not fall into their mouths, but around their tent. They had to use diligence to gather it. Do we understand the necessity of diligence in the apprehension of Divine things? 9. The manna was gathered by stooping. It grew not upon the trees, but fell upon the ground. In order to obtainit the Israelites had to go down on their knees. How significant, and how accurate the type! Diligence on our part is required if we are to appropriate from the Word that which our souls need. But something more than diligence is necessary. There must be dependence upon God, 10. Some gathered more, some less. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered some more, some less(v. 17). How like what we find around us today! Some Christians confine themselves to the Psalms and the Gospels, rarely referring to any other section of the Bible. Others study the Church Epistles, but neglect the prophetical portions. A few study the Old Testament, as well as the New, and derive immeasurable delight in the wonderful types to be found there on almost every page. It is also true with the spiritual manna that some gather more, some less. 11 What was gathered must be used. Let no man leave of it till the morning (v. 19). Divine truth is not to be hoarded up, but turned to present profit. We are to use what God has given us. We are first to walk in the truth ourselves, and then to recommend it to others. As the Lord gives us opportunities it is our happy privilege to pass on to others what He has given to us. It is in this way that Christian fellowship becomes most helpful 12. The manna was despised by the mixed multitude. And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely: the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, besides this manna before our eyes (Num. 11:4-6). Israel were not alone as they came forth from Egypt. They were accompanied by A mixed multitude which had, doubtless, been deeply impressed by Jehovah’’s plagues and interventions on Israel’’s behalf, but who had no knowledge of God for themselves. 13. The manna was preserved in the Ark. And Moses said unto Aaron, ‘‘Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord to be kept for your generations.’’ (v. 33). Hebrews 9:4 tells us that it was a ‘‘golden pot.’’ This is very striking. The manna was not to be stored up in the tents of the Israelites for a single day; yet here we see it preserved for almost forty years in the Tabernacle. It was to be kept for the land of Canaan. And so with the antitype: while we cannot feed on yesterday’s experience and make that satisfy the need of today, nevertheless, our experiences from day to day in the wilderness will be found again with rich and blessed fruitage. The ‘‘golden pot’’ in which the manna was stored tells of what a high value God sets upon that which it typified. The fact that the manna was kept in the ark till Canaan was reached, tells of how God has preserved the Scriptures all through the ages. 14. The manna lasted until Canaan was reached. And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years until they came to a land inhabited: they did eat manna until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan (v.35). This tells of what an inexhaustible supply God has for His people. To the end of the wilderness journey the manna continued. And thank God this is true of the spiritual manna. The grass withereth and the flower fadeth, but the Word of the Lord endureth forever. We may be in the last days of this age; the perilous times may be upon us; but we still have God’’s blessed word. May we prize it more highly, read it more carefully, study it more diligently.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 08:00:31 +0000
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