Throughout scripture, Yahweh supplies nourishment to his children by manna, a mysterious substance, like bread or wafers of honey, with the appearance of coriander seeds and bdellium (a.k.a. false myrrh). The first time was after the Exodus from Egypt, following complaints in the wilderness. --- And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the YHWH in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:2-3 ESV --- But being a gracious and loving Father, he continues to provide amidst complaints. --- Then YHWH said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. Exodus 16:4 ESV When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the YHWH has given you to eat. Exodus 16:15 ESV Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. Exodus 16:31 ESV --- The amount of manna given must have been substantial, as everyone had their fill daily and households were required to keep an omer, approximately 3.5 liters dry weight, as a sign throughout generations. --- Moses said, “This is what the YHWH has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” Exodus 16:32 ESV --- This entire passage is in Exodus 16, showing the Father's love and care in an incredibly miraculous way, but in Numbers 11, the people become unsatisfied yet again, despite this effortless food source. The second time manna is supplied, there are more complaints and grumbling, even about the manna itself, as the people desire meat instead, causing Yahweh's anger to be kindled. --- And the people complained in the hearing of the YHWH about their misfortunes, and when the YHWH heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the YHWH burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. Numbers 11:1 ESV But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil. When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell with it. Numbers 11:6-9 ESV --- Moses intercedes for the people and Yahweh provides more manna, but the people still want meat and continue complaining. This causes more anger all around (YHWH, Moses, Israel) with many twists and turns, ultimately leading to... quail? Is Yahweh finally giving in to all the complaints and giving the people what they want rather than what he's provided? --- Then a wind from the Lord sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground. Numbers 11:31 ESV While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague. Numbers 11:33 ESV --- Generations later, the Father provides manna a third and final time. This manna, however, is different. It's alive! Will his children still complain? How much worse is the punishment for the rejection of this ultimate gift? --- 35. Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:35-40 ESV