THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
God continues to perform wonders through manna and quails, ascending from one display of strength to another, as stated in Psalm 83:8. He creates pathways for those who lack experience, revealing His glory in every instance, and demonstrating that He alone can accomplish beyond human capability without effort. This deserves our awe, showing that He is recognized as God, not just a skilled artisan or wicked inventor, but genuinely divine. Through His glorious deeds, all can easily comprehend His pure essence, defined by His omnipotence and unwavering strength in fulfilling His will. Additionally, He embodies a complete lack of pity. This can be observed in the narrative previously shared.
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It is recorded that on the fifteenth day of the second month after leaving Egypt, the entire assembly of the children of Israel began to complain against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, expressing a wistful desire for the food they had in Egypt, lamenting that they had been led into the desert to starve. The Lord responded to Moses by promising to provide bread from heaven, instructing the people to gather only what they needed each day, thus testing their obedience to His commandments. On the sixth day, they were to collect twice as much (Ex. 16:1-5). The firstborn of Egypt had perished, and the Israelites had departed without the opportunity to prepare provisions; they carried their unrisen dough into their garments in haste. Fear gripped both the Egyptians pursuing them and the Israelites, as they were all aware that disobedience to divine instruction would lead to dire consequences. The Israelites feared that if they delayed, their enemies would attack them in retaliation for Egypt’s losses. As a result, they prioritized what was immediately available for their journey rather than gathering necessary supplies. After consuming their limited provisions, they longed for the food of Egypt, forgetting the great deliverance from slavery they had experienced and expressing dissatisfaction with their newfound freedom, preferring the comforts of fleshly indulgence. This deeply frustrated Moses, who was leading them, yet God, in His mercy, promised to provide them with ample sustenance despite their grievances. The plea for daily necessities is not inherently sinful, but it was their complaining that truly pained Him. The Savior instructs us to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). Despite their need, the Israelites lamented their liberation, misjudging the grace they had received, which liberated them from their previous comforts of food and flesh. Their complaints against God were unrestrained, yet God remained unperturbed, promising to supply them with unexpected abundance. By His immeasurable power, He sent quails in the evening and manna in the morning. As the psalmist proclaimed, “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, He demonstrated that God can provide for His people even in desolation, similar to how our Lord Jesus Christ performed miracles, feeding a multitude with five loaves and gathering twelve baskets of leftovers (Matthew 14:13-20, and parallels). The method of performing miracles transcends human understanding, so what is beyond comprehension must be embraced through faith alone. Let all who marvel at His works declare, “I know that Thou canst do all things, and that Thy purpose cannot be thwarted” (Job 42:2). Interpretations on chapter 16 may also be referenced in John 6:33.