Narrow Lanes and Manna

Intro

Text: Exodus 15:22–16:36 Gospel Connection: John 6:35 Worship Theme: Daily Bread, Daily Grace

Sermon Outline: “Manna: God’s Daily Bread in the Wilderness”

Text: Exodus 15:22–16:36 Gospel Connection: John 6:35 Worship Theme: Daily Bread, Daily Grace

1. Introduction – “What is it?” (Ex. 16:15)

I get anxious in construction zones. Do you?

The orange barrels feel like they’re closing in. There’s no shoulder, no extra lane—just barely enough room to make it through. I grip the wheel tight, convinced I’m one wrong twitch away from scraping the guardrail or clipping the car beside me. And don’t get me started on what the truckers must feel—when your clearance is measured in inches, trust becomes your only way forward.

That’s when you realize something: You have to believe that the one who marked out the path knew your dimensions. You have to trust that they made sure you’ll fit.

And isn’t that the walk of faith? Life narrows. Uncertainty rises. But God says, “I’ve made the way, and you will not be crushed.”

The wilderness is not where God abandons us. It’s where God provides just enough.

But here's the catch: the provision often comes veiled in mystery.

History is full of moments when our first reaction becomes the name of the thing. During World War II, soldiers were issued a new all-terrain vehicle called the ‘G.P.’ for ‘General Purpose.’ They looked at it and started saying, ‘Gee-pee?’—and the nickname Jeep stuck. When scientists first talked about the beginning of the universe, one of them scoffed, ‘What, some Big Bang started everything?’—and the name of the joke became the name of the theory. Even our everyday Wi-Fi is a playful twist on the question ‘Why-Fi?’ that advertisers used to make it catchy.

And then there is manna.

They woke up, saw the white flakes on the desert floor, and said, ‘Man hu?’—‘What is it?’ Their question became its name: manna. God’s provision came veiled in mystery, just enough for the day, and it invited them to trust Him even when they didn’t fully understand what He was doing.”

“The desert floor was covered with something white and thin. The Israelites bent down, picked it up, and asked the only question that made sense: ‘Man hu?’—‘What is it?’”

The Name Itself:

Manna literally means “What is it?” (Ex. 16:15).

The question becomes the name—God’s provision veiled in mystery.

The story of what God did is preserved in a single word.

Physical Qualities of Manna:

White, flaky, like coriander seed (Ex. 16:31; Num. 11:7).

Tasted like wafers with honey; appeared with the morning dew.

Melted with the sun—ephemeral, like grace for the moment.

A daily mystery, a strange mercy, just enough for now.

And that’s exactly what grace feels like: not always recognizable, but always reliable. Just enough. Just in time.

Why did this manna come about?

It is easy to be frustrated reading how the Israelites complained to God and sometimes against God. When we see what God did for them in Egypt and through the Red Sea Crossing we can easily state “You have some nerve”.

While we know the name Israel means “One who wrestles with God” this text does reveal something about Israel’s constant default to complaint but it shows us even more about who God is going to be for Israel and most importantly who God is going to be for each of us.

Psalm 86:15 “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

Jonah 4:2 “He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.”

Exodus 34:6 “The Lord passed before him, and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,”

God does not turn his back on Israel because of their complaint but rather like a father gently placing a child on a stool after a meltdown, he pours out grace. Israel is still very ignorant but God meets them where they are. God is going to blow their minds in a brand new way. They have experienced Divinely orchestrated freedom and witnessed God save through the water. Now they will experience Divine provision.

Manna’s Purpose:

Provided daily sustenance; taught dependence on God (Ex. 16:4; Deut. 8:3).

Linked to the Red Sea memory: the God who saved them now sustains them.

There are strict instructions. Only gather enough for your family’s daily needs. Do not look to tomorrow but focus on today.

The manna is going to meet the needs of the people but God is using it to communicate a far bigger and impactful reality. The disparagement between God’s abounding grace and humanity’s reluctance to trust God.

The Human Factor

God gives enough for today. Enough bread. Enough strength. Enough grace. But not more—because more would make us rely on ourselves.

But people are more prone to grumble than grace. Human condition is defaulted toward scarcity , not abundance. Humanity is defaulted toward self reliance and doubt. We fear the unknown and seek to influence as much as possible,

I loved my work in construction and most jobs were pleasant and enjoyable but every now and then we worked for a homeowner that could not let go of the project they had hired us to do. Everyday they would beat us to the jobsite, watch, and question absolutely everything. I finally lost my patience one day and exclaimed “you hired us, remember”.

But here’s the thing about the human heart: We are more prone to grumble than to trust. We default to fear before faith.

The Israelites had seen the Red Sea part. They had walked through on dry ground. But hunger made them forget. Hunger made them suspicious. Hunger made them doubt if God would come through again.

And honestly? We do the same.

We say we trust God—but we hoard money, time, food, and control. We believe God is good—but we manipulate circumstances just in case. We pray for daily bread—but fill our pantries with anxiety.

And in these types of moments, the human heart is revealed.

Fear of the unknown pulls something ugly out of us.

When I worked in construction, we had one client who couldn’t let go. Every day he’d show up early, question everything, and hover over our shoulders. Finally, I snapped: “You hired us, remember?”

That’s the human condition. We say we trust God—but we hover, question, and try to control.

Why? Because fear and doubt are fertile soil for sin. And sin always bears familiar fruit:

Workaholism – striving to earn what God wants to give.

Greed – grabbing more because we don’t believe God gives enough.

Blame – like Israel, magnifying problems and minimizing grace.

Control – stockpiling just in case God doesn't show up tomorrow.

The Israelites show us the human heart: rescued by God but restless, forgiven but fearful, blessed but still selfish.

God gives enough for today. Enough bread. Enough strength. Enough grace. But not more—because more would make us rely on ourselves. More would beat our egos thinking that we are saving ourselves rather than depending on God.

Tie Back to the Text

“God gave clear instructions: ‘Only gather enough for today.’ But some couldn’t do it. They gathered extra, and by morning it was rotten and full of worms (Ex. 16:20). The wilderness exposed their condition: we will always try to save ourselves before we trust God to sustain us.”

Connection to Life:

God’s provision in our own “wilderness seasons” is often unfamiliar, surprising, and requires trust.

Illustration: Sometimes God’s answers to our prayers come in forms that make us say, “What is this?”

2. God Provides Enough for Today (Ex. 16:16–20)

God gives enough for today. Enough bread. Enough strength. Enough grace. But not more—because more would make us rely on ourselves.

Manna was a daily gift—no hoarding allowed.

Purpose: Teach daily dependence rather than self-reliance.

Those who hoarded saw their manna rot—self-sufficiency leads to decay.

Theological Tie:

Deut. 8:3 – “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

Jesus quotes this in Matt. 4:4 in His own wilderness testing.

Preaching Note:

Invite listeners to consider: Where am I trying to store up control instead of trusting God daily?

3. Sabbath Provision and Rest (Ex. 16:22–30)

God gives enough for today. Enough bread. Enough strength. Enough grace. But not more—because more would make us rely on ourselves.

Double portion before the Sabbath showed God’s care and rhythm for life.

Lesson: Our striving is not ultimate—God’s presence secures life.

Bridge to Worship: The Sabbath gift teaches us to rest in grace, not our effort.

4. From Manna to the Bread of Life (John 6:31–35)

The manna was a sign pointing forward to Christ.

Remember how God deals gently with Israel in the wilderness. God meets them in their complaint and pours out abundance.

God does that again in Jesus. Jesus comes into the world to meet the broken and lost where they are in order to show his Divine provision.

Jesus becomes the guest of tax collectors and sinners. Jesus meets the diseased and infirmed. Jesus comes to the marginalize and the struggling and reveals himself to be our provision.

Christ is our portion. Christ is our salvation. We raise our hands in complaint from the pain of a broken and fallen world. Christ invites us to His Table that we may receive Him as our provision.

Jesus: “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger.”

Foreshadowing:

Manna: Daily, physical, temporary.

Christ: Eternal, spiritual, fully satisfying.

Theological Implications:

Mystery – God’s provision often comes unrecognizably.

Daily Grace – God gives enough for now to teach trust.

Sabbath Rest – God invites us to stop striving.

Christological Fulfillment – Christ is the “true manna.”

5. Eucharist Connection

Communion is our manna for today—a present, sustaining grace.

New Testament Tie:

John 6:31–35 – Jesus as the True Manna.

Matt. 4:4 – We live by every word from God, fulfilled in Christ.

Preaching Moment (Hold up bread):

And just like manna in the wilderness, Jesus doesn’t look like what we expect. He comes in weakness. He dies in shame. He rises in power.

He is our daily bread—enough for today.

The Israelites asked, “What is it?” We ask, “Who is this man?”

And heaven answers: “This is My Son. Take and eat.”

Communion isn’t leftovers. It’s not a stockpile. It’s grace—fresh for today, satisfying for eternity.

“This is enough for you. We do not hoard this meal—we receive it fresh each time, as God’s grace for today. In Christ, our souls are fed for eternity.”

6. Conclusion & Invitation

Where are you trying to hoard what only God can provide? Where are you clinging to control when God is calling you to trust?

Hear the good news: God is not asking you to plan the next 40 years. He is asking you to trust Him for the next 40 minutes.

Trust that He knows your dimensions. Trust that He marked out the path. Trust that He is enough for you—today.

Invitation to the Table:

“Come and receive what you need most—Christ Himself, the Bread of Life.”

Key Takeaway:

God gives enough for today so that we will learn to depend on Him.