The Laws of Manna

The Laws of Manna

2 Corinthians 8:8-15  I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. ¹⁰ And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; ¹¹ but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. ¹² For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.¹³ For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; ¹⁴ but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. ¹⁵ As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Paul references manna when writing to the church concerning giving. As it is written –

Exodus 16:18  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.

This passage was originally applied to the gathering of manna by the children of Israel. The manna which fell around the camp of Israel was gathered every morning. All that were able were employed in gathering it; and when it was collected it was distributed in the proportion of an omer, or about five pints to each man. Some would be more active and more successful than others. Some by age or infirmity would collect little; probably many by being confined to the camp would collect none. They who had gathered more than an omer, therefore, would in this way contribute to the needs of others, and would be constantly manifesting a spirit of benevolence. So that each man’s need was met.

Paul applies this passage, therefore, in the same spirit in which it was originally intended. He means to say that the rich Christians at Corinth should impart freely to their poorer brethren. Paul is testing their love. They had gathered more wealth than was immediately necessary for their families or themselves. They should, therefore, impart freely to those who had been less successful or less able.

Wealth, like manna, is the gift of God. Some are able to gather much more than others. By their skill, their health, their diligence, or by God’s arrangements, they are successful. Others are feeble, or sick, or aged, or destitute of skill, and are less successful. All that is obtained is by the arrangement of God. The health, the strength, the skill, the wisdom by which we are enabled to obtain it, are all his gift. That which is  honestly obtained should be regarded as His, and we should esteem it a privilege daily to impart to others less favored and less successful.

Exodus 16:16-22 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 ^[a]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.

God had said that rules would be given in connection with the manna by which the people would be tested, whether they would walk in His law, or not.

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

The increase of substance is in fact a test. Do we really love? Do we really love God and do we relly love others? Will we bow down to Satan’s offer, “I will give you all these things”? Or will we pass the test like our Lord in the wilderness?

In all things, God wants to know if we will obey Him. We are told, “If you love Me, you will obey Me”. The area of manna is no different. Will we obey Him with what He gives us? Will we use our increase for Him and to build His kingdom? Will we take care of His church because we love what He loves? Or will we use what He gives us for ourselves, hoard it up and build our own kingdom only to see it eaten by the worms?

The choice is yours. There is no requirement, except the law of love. Jesus in fact said, “they will know us by our love for one another”.

Paul brings up manna, referencing OT Scripture. So tonight I want to talk about three laws of the manna:

2. THE LAW AS TO QUANTITY “Each one’s need” means, according to the quantity allowed to each person for consumption. This was fixed at an omer, roughly equivalent to 2.3 liters. The simplest way of explaining what follows is to suppose that each individual, when he went out to gather, aimed, as nearly as possible, at bringing in his exact omer. On measuring what had been gathered, it would be found that some had brought in a little more, some a little less, than the exact quantity; the excess was then to go to balance any defect, and the result would be that each person would receive his omer. It may be supposed, also, that owing to differences of age, strength, agility, etc., there would be room left for one helping another, some gathering more, to help out the deficiencies of the less active.

 However, an intentionally rebellious or lazy person was not permitted to participate in this equal dividend,  benefiting off the labors of others.

2 Thessalonians 3:10  For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

The OT law tells us the same- even the poor that could work were required to work by gleaning the fields of the rich.

What does this first law teach us?
1. The gift of God is meant for common benefit.

This law includes all the gifts of God. I have a prophetic gifting, but this gift is not meant for myself but to enrich and bless others. Preaching, teaching, serving, giving, hospitality are all gifts meant to edify the church. Whatever gifts you have are not for you- they are for the Body of Christ.

Wealth is a gift from God. You are entitled to your share in it; and you are free to enjoy the fruit of your labor; but you are not entitled selfishly to enrich yourself, while others are in need. How much do you really need? We get so that we may give. We are to be a conduit of God’s gifts and resources.

Laws of Manna

Jesus told a parable:

Luke 12:15-21  And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of ^[a]covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” ¹⁶ Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ ²¹ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

There are perils of riches that we ought to pay close attention to.

The Bible describes the potential for wealth to lead to pride, greed, a divided heart, a distraction from God, fruitlessness and even separation.

Matthew 6:24  “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and ^[a]mammon.

Luke 12:15  And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of ^[a]covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Proverbs 30:8-9 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—
Feed me with the food allotted to me; ⁹ Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.

Mark 10:25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

We are warned that an excessive focus on wealth can hinder one’s spiritual life. 

• Distraction from God: Wealth can become a primary focus, drawing attention away from spiritual matters and our devotion to God. Ask anyone that has pursued riches, it is an all the time endeavor.
• Pride and arrogance: Having substantial riches can lead to a sense of self-importance and a disregard for others. 
• Greed and covetousness: The desire for more wealth can become insatiable, leading to greed and unethical behavior. The eyes of man are never satisfied. The more we accumulate, the more we want.
• False security: Relying on material possessions for happiness can create a false sense of security, neglecting true contentment.

1 Timothy 6:10  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

2. In the church, the duty of the stronger is to help the weaker, and of the richer to help the poorer. This is the lesson from the above passage by the apostle Paul. Each gatherer of the manna was to do his part, and put what he could into the common stock for those unable to gather. The outcome is not that some men be eased, while others are burdened. But, each doing what he can, with a willing heart to help the weaker. The design is that the abundance of one may be a supply, for the deficiency of another, that so there may be equality, as it pertains to food, clothing and lodging. The gatherer of the manna was forbidden to act selfishly

Romans 15:1-2  We then who are strong ought to bear with the ^[a]scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ² Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to ^[b]edification.

This does not mean that you are required to give up your home because it is nicer than another’s. It also doesn’t mean that you go into debt trying to provide for another. Paul says, “let your abundance supply another’s lack”. Maybe you have an abundance of coats while another has an abundance of apples. Our love is being tested.

On 9-11 I am sure there was not one phone call from either tower or from any plane that was going down to tell a loved one to buy or sell stock. The only thing that matters when we die is if we loved God and loved others as He commands.

1. 
   THE LAW AS TO TIME.
   
   1. The manna was to be gathered in early morning. The people had to be up early, and had to be diligent, that their manna might be collected before “the sun waxed hot”. If not collected then, the substance melted away, and could not be had at all. A lesson of diligence in business; and secondly, of the advantage of the morning hours.

There is a time and a season for everything:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: ² A time ^[a]to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; ³ A time to kill, a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; ⁴ A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; ⁵ A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; ⁶ A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; ⁷ A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ⁸ A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.

The time to plant your field is in your early years. When you are young, your early years, this is the time to work hard. Young people starting out are planting seeds to produce a harvest that you may not reap for decades. Do not expect to have what your parents have when you are in your 20’s.

The manna teaches us that the is a time to work or it will be taken away. There are unique seasons when a God door is open and if you do not act immediately, that door will close and you will have lost your chance. God is a God of time.

David said, “early will I seek You”, implying the morning hours. There is something about the morning hours. Getting up early and giving the Lord the first part of your day. Seeking Him and talking to Him starts your day off right. I get up at 6, lately at 5- do my devotions and pray. It helps with my mood and attitude the rest of the day

But I also believe this can imply seeking the Lord while you are young. Train your children to know the Lord at an early age and it will bring them a huge harvest in their latter years. They will not have wasted those early years. Where I started and where my kids started is far apart. (show)

2. On six days of the week only. God teaches here the lesson of putting forward our work on week days, that we may be able to enjoy a Sabbath free from distraction. He puts honor on the ordinance of the Sabbath itself, by requiring that no work be done upon it.

Think about this- the manna kept the Sabbath for 40 years. What’s wrong with us? A piece of bread falling from the sky fell everyday for 40 years, except one day a week to honor the Lord. Can we not honor Him one day a week? One day that we rest and worship Him? Sunday is not technically the Sabbath, but it is referred to in Scripture as the “Lord’s day”

III. THE LAW AS TO USE.

None of the manna was to be left till the morning. We have here again a double lesson.

1. A lesson against hoarding. God gave to each person his quantity of manna; and the individual had no right to more. What excess he had in his gathering ought to have gone to supplement some other person’s deficiency. But greed led some of the Israelites to disobey. It would save them trouble to lay up what they did not need, and use it again next day. They might make profit out of it by barter. All such attempts God defeated by ordaining that the hoarded manna should breed worms, and grow corrupt.

I still believe in tithing. In fact, I believe it predates the law. We can find bringing your first fruits to God in the story of Cain and Abel. Explain.

Tithing is a heart issue

To not tithe and give offerings robs God’s House of supply for spiritual food.

Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

They were pouting and mourning over the release of their tithe, and were doubting the worth and value of God’s economic system

Malachi 3:13-14 “Your words have been ^[a]harsh against Me,” Says the Lord, “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ ¹⁴ You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord of hosts?

Tithing and offerings are still God’s way to finance and take care of His church. A bad attitude, hoarding manna, hurts us and leaves a deficit in others.

Hoarding reveals a wrong priority in only taking care of one’s own house and neglecting God’s House.

Haggai 1:3-11 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, ⁴ “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this ^[a]temple to lie in ruins?” ⁵ Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! ⁶ “You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

⁷ Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! ⁸ Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the ^[b]temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. ⁹ “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. ¹⁰ Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. ¹¹ For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

God’s people took care of their own homes but neglected God’s House by saying it wasn’t a good time to do what God said. Consider your ways. This scripture is the reason we did not do anything major to our home for about 16 years into planning the church. We felt like we could then upgrade the kitchen. Just in time to move out.

The result of these Israelites was:

1. Work, work, work and never get ahead. Putting money in a bag with holes (v.9)
2. Caused an economic slowdown in the land (v.10-11)
3. Everything they did became harder and more difficult to accomplish (v.11)
4. There was no oil or dew. The oil and dew was a sign that commanded blessing that comes from unity. (psalm 133)

Seeking first the kingdom of God still includes taking care of God’s House and an endeavor to keep the unity it the church. God’s supply to us is the supply for the church. It is not only for our consumption.

2. Hoarded manna is a lesson against distrust. Another motive for laying up the manna would be to provide for tomorrow in case of any failure in the supply. But this was in direct contradiction to God’s end in giving the people their manna day by day. He was testing them in order to foster trust, and keep alive their sense of dependence on him.

Christ warns us against the spirit of distrust, and of anxiety for tomorrow. He teaches us to pray for “daily bread”

Matthew 6:9-11  In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.

We should NEVER desire to be independent of God.

This is why I say tithing is a heart issue- it reveals whether or not you trust the Lord to provide and take care of you.

THE FAILURE OF THE PEOPLE TO OBSERVE THESE LAWS, They failed at each point. They tried to hoard. They went out to gather on the Sabbath. This showed both disobedience and unbelief.

What a lesson! – Will you learn from the laws of manna? Our love will be tested. Will FVC pass the test?

Laws of Manna