Yes, manna holds deep significance as God's miraculous provision and a spiritual type of Christ.
The Bible shows manna as daily bread from heaven that sustained Israel for 40 years, testing their obedience to God's law. Les Feldick teaches that manna also symbolizes Christ, the spiritual food, and its cessation at Jordan marks a transition from elementary beginnings to mature faith.
Exodus 16:4 — This verse records God's promise to rain bread from heaven, introducing the manna as a direct test of Israel's obedience.
The Bible records that after leaving Egypt, Israel journeyed to the wilderness of Zin, and there they complained against Moses and Aaron, longing for the fleshpots of Egypt (Exodus 16:1-3). In response, God promised to rain bread from heaven, saying, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no" (Exodus 16:4). This manna appeared each morning, and on the sixth day the people gathered a double portion, providing for the Sabbath (Exodus 16:22-26). Israel ate manna for forty years, until they came to the border of Canaan (Exodus 16:35). In the New Testament, Jesus references the manna in His discourse on the bread of life (John 6:31-35), and Paul speaks of the manna as "spiritual food" (1 Corinthians 10:3).
Les Feldick explains that manna was God's daily provision for Israel in the wilderness, testing their obedience and dependence on Him. He emphasizes that for 40 years the nation lived on this miraculous food, which was part of their "elementary beginnings." When Israel crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land, the manna stopped; they then ate the old corn of Canaan, symbolizing a transition from the wilderness to a new stage of God's program. Les draws a spiritual parallel: just as Israel fed on manna, believers today feast on the Word of God, and Christ Himself is the spiritual Rock and bread from heaven. He also connects the cessation of manna to Paul's teaching that we no longer know Christ after the flesh but after the resurrection.
Manna served as God's daily provision for Israel after they left Egypt, as they traveled through the hot desert. They had nothing else to eat, so God gave them bread from heaven each day. This provision tested whether they would walk in His law, as seen in Exodus 16:4. Les points out that this was part of their elementary beginnings, forcing them to wait on God.
Les teaches that the manna, along with the water from the rock, was 'spiritual food' and 'spiritual drink,' and that the Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:3-4). He also notes that Jesus, in the New Testament, is the bread of life. However, the clips provided focus on the manna as a type of Christ only indirectly, with the primary emphasis on the rock being Christ. The manna itself is called 'spiritual food' by Paul, which Les identifies as the manna.
Les explains that after Israel crossed the Jordan and entered the Promised Land, the manna stopped. They then ate the old corn of Canaan, which had been stored in granaries. This marked a transition from their wilderness wanderings to occupying the land. Les uses this to illustrate a spiritual principle: just as Israel moved from manna to the produce of the land, believers today move from elementary teachings to a deeper knowledge of Christ, particularly His resurrection, as Paul emphasizes in 2 Corinthians 5:16.
Les, in the context of Jesus' temptation, emphasizes that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from God's mouth. This underscores that spiritual nourishment is more important than physical food. He encourages believers to be saturated with the Word daily to defeat Satan, just as Jesus used Scripture.
Manna as Wilderness Provision
Les introduces the context of manna, showing Israel's journey into the wilderness and the need for God's provision after leaving Egypt.
Manna Stops After Jordan
Les explains that after Israel crossed the Jordan, they ate the old corn of Canaan, and the manna ceased, marking a transition in their history.
Word of God More than Bread
Les references Jesus' quotation about living by every word of God, connecting spiritual nourishment to the Word, which is essential.
Manna as Elementary Beginnings
Les teaches that manna was part of Israel's simplistic beginnings, and once they crossed Jordan, they had to eat the grain of the land, reflecting a new phase.
Manna and Knowing Christ After the Flesh
Les uses the cessation of manna to illustrate the principle of not knowing Christ after the flesh, but focusing on His resurrection.
Manna as Spiritual Food
Les identifies the manna as the 'spiritual food' which Israel ate, connecting it to the spiritual rock which is Christ.
Manna and the Smitten Rock
Les reiterates that Israel ate the same spiritual food, the manna, and drank from the spiritual rock, Christ, linking the exodus provision to Christ.
Priorities: Spiritual over Physical
Les stresses the need to temper physical appetites with spiritual things, using Jesus' answer about living by every word of God.
Exodus 16:4: 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, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
This verse establishes manna as a test of Israel's obedience to God's law.
Exodus 16:35: 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.
This verse shows the duration and purpose of manna, lasting until they reached Canaan.
1 Corinthians 10:3: And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
Paul refers to the manna as spiritual food, drawing a parallel to Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:4: And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
This verse connects the sustenance of Israel to Christ, the spiritual Rock.
Deuteronomy 8:3: And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
This verse reveals that manna taught Israel dependence on God's word.
Matthew 4:4: But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Jesus quotes this to emphasize that spiritual nourishment from God's word is more vital than physical bread.
Manna was the bread from heaven that God provided for the children of Israel during their 40 years in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. It appeared each morning and was gathered daily, with a double portion on the sixth day to cover the Sabbath. It was a miraculous provision that sustained the entire nation.
The manna stopped after Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. They then ate the old corn of Canaan, marking the end of their wilderness journey and the beginning of their settlement in the land. This transition signified a change in God's dealing with them.
Paul refers to the manna as 'spiritual food' and the rock as Christ. Jesus also called Himself the bread of life. Les Feldick teaches that the manna, along with the water from the rock, was a type pointing to Christ as the sustainer and giver of eternal life.
Manna teaches us to trust God for our daily needs and to prioritize spiritual nourishment over physical appetites. Just as Israel depended on God's daily provision, we are to depend on His Word, as Jesus quoted, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'
Watch the Teaching: Manna from Heaven & The Sabbath: Law vs. Grace Explained