Exodus 16:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

However, because he cherished them more than even his own kin, he was burdened by their sinful state and the weight of their corruption. His sorrow stemmed not just from the offenses against himself but from their continual transgressions. Their ingratitude was even more grievous, as they displayed their wickedness and greed by hoarding the miraculous provisions, and shortly thereafter, they grumbled again, voicing their discontent with God's blessings. Each time, the blessed one felt crushed and despondent, suffering more than the transgressors themselves.

The Scripture tells us that, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their exodus from Egypt, the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. They lamented that it would have been better to have died by the Lord's hand in Egypt, where they sat by pots of meat and ate until they were full, accusing Moses of leading them into the wilderness to starve. In response, the Lord instructed Moses that He would provide bread from heaven, allowing the people to gather daily what they needed, as a test to see if they would adhere to His commandments; on the sixth day, they were to gather twice as much (Ex. 16:1-5). The firstborn of Egypt had perished, as previously mentioned, and the Israelites left hastily, without even the time to prepare provisions, taking their unleavened dough wrapped in their garments. Fear engulfed both the Egyptians and the Israelites, for the Egyptians feared they too would perish if they disregarded God's command to release Israel; meanwhile, the Israelites worried that delays might result in conflict with their pursuers. They set out without considering their journey's needs, merely taking what was readily available. After consuming their provisions, they yearned for the foods of Egypt, conveniently forgetting the tragedies from which they had been delivered, and expressed disdain for their liberation, preferring the familiar comforts of food to the priceless gift of freedom desired by all. This deeply troubled Moses. Yet, God promptly promised abundance, demonstrating grace even to those who had sinned against Him. The longing for sustenance itself is not sinful; rather, it was the grumbling that grieved Him most. The Savior taught us to request, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). However, instead of seeking nourishment, the Israelites complained about their liberation, blaming the precious gift of freedom for depriving them of the comforts of bread and meat. In their bitterness, they cried out against God. Yet, God remained unperturbed; He promised them an unforeseen surplus of food, sending quails in the evening and manna in the morning through His unfathomable power. As King David expressed, "The bread of heaven shall He give them; the bread of angels shall man eat" (Psalm 77:24-25). Through this trial and His miraculous acts, God demonstrated that He can provide sustenance in the wilderness, much like our Lord Jesus Christ, who performed miracles by breaking five loaves to feed a multitude, gathering twelve baskets of leftovers (Matthew 14:13-20 and parallels). The nature of such miracles transcends human comprehension; thus, that which surpasses understanding should be embraced through faith alone. Let all who are in awe of Him declare, "I know that Thou canst do all things, and that Thy purpose cannot be thwarted" (Job 42:2). Interpretations on chapter 16 also refer to John 6:33.