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sent from God, yet both so given that, while unbelief wasinexcusable, it should still be
possible. To show the more clearly that these dealings were from theLord, they were
bidden "come near before Jehovah," and "behold the glory of Jehovah," as it"appeared
in the cloud." (Exodus 16:9, 10) That Presence ought to have prevented their
murmuring,or rather changed it into prayer and praise. And so it always is, that, before
God supplies our wants,He shows us that His presence had been near, and He reveals
His glory. That Presence is in itselfsufficient; for no good thing shall be wanting to
them that trust in Him.
As evening gathered around the camp, the air became darkened. An extraordinary
flight of quails,such as at that season of the year passes northward from the warmer
regions of the interior, wasover the camp. It is a not uncommon occurrence that, when
wearied, these birds droop and settledown for rest, so as to be easily clubbed with
sticks, and even caught by the hand. Themiraculousness chiefly consisted in the
extraordinary number, the seasonable arrival, and the peculiarcircumstances under
which these quails came. But greater wonder yet awaited them on the morrow.While
passing through the Wady Gharandel they might have observed that the tamarisk,
whenpricked by a small insect, exuded drops of white, sweet, honey-like substance,
which melted in thesun. This was the natural manna (a name perhaps derived from the
Egyptian), which, in certaindistricts, is found from the middle of May to about the end
of July. But "can God furnish a table inthe wilderness?" Can He command the clouds
from above, and open the doors of heaven? Can Herain down manna upon them to
eat? That would indeed be to give them of the corn of heaven! Truly,this were angels'
food, the provision, direct from God, "the bread of heaven!" (Psalm 78:19-27;105:40)
The Lord did this, and far more. As in the evening, He had "caused an east wind to
blow in theheavens; and by His power He brought in the south wind; He rained flesh
also upon them as dust,and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea, so, in the
morning, as the dew that had lain rose inwhite vapor, and was carried towards the blue
sky, there lay on the face of the ground "a smallround thing, as small as the hoar
frost." "It was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was likewafers made with
honey." (Exodus 16:21)
The children of Israel said, Manna! What is that? It was manna, and yet it was not
manna; not themanna which the wilderness produced, and yet in some respects like it;
it was the manna fromheaven, the bread which God gave them to eat. Thus it recalls
our present condition. We are in thewilderness, yet not of the wilderness; our
provision is like the wilderness food, yet not the wildernessmanna; but, above all, it is
sent us directly from God.
Such assuredly must have been the lessons which Israel was, and which we to this day
are, called tolearn. The very resemblance in some points of the natural to the heaven-
(^)