What Is Manna?

When Israel murmured against Moses for lack of food in the wilderness of Sin, God promised to 'rain bread from heaven.' The next morning, a small round substance as fine as frost covered the ground. The Israelites called it 'manna,' meaning 'What is it?' It was white like coriander seed, tasted like wafers made with honey, and melted in the sun. Each day the people gathered exactly one omer per person; any excess bred worms and stank. On the sixth day, twice as much fell so they could rest on the Sabbath. The manna ceased the moment Israel ate the produce of Canaan. Jesus later called Himself the true bread from heaven: 'Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.' Manna foreshadows Christ — the daily, sufficient, life-giving sustenance of God's people.