Beshalach- The Hidden Manna

Our parsha this week speaks of the people complaining about not having water, bread, and meat. God provides them all three; He sweetens the water and causes both manna and quail to rain down from the sky. Our Sages note that there are many connections between this story and that of Pesach (Passover). First of all, in all of the events leading to Sinai, this is the only one where a date is given. The text tells us that it was exactly a month after the first Passover. Second, God instructs them to only gather as much manna as they needed. If they tried to horde it, it spoiled. Likewise the Passover lamb was to be eaten overnight. Third, the quail arrived at twilight and the Passover lamb was to be killed at twilight. Fourth, in both these passages, Israel is referred to as not simply “B’nei Yisrael” but as “Adat B’nei Yisrael”, the Congregation of the Children of Israel. Similar wording in the Torah implies to the rabbis that there is a connection between the two passages. And finally, Aaron is visible at the Passover but then disappears from the text until the giving of manna. As the one to become the high priest, this is seen as significant and linking the two passages together.

So it is as if we have two Passovers. The first centers around the lamb, and the second manna. We can connect these two midrashically to the two appearances of the Messiah.

First, Yeshua came as the Passover Lamb. Yochannan the Immerser announces him as the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world. Rav Shaul explicitly calls him the Passover Lamb sacrificed for our sins. And in Yochannan’s Revelation we have the slain lamb sitting on the throne.

Second, Yeshua will come as the Manna. He said, “I am the bread of life come down from heaven”. This is clearly a reference to the manna in the wilderness. But he is not referring to his first appearance, because as we have already said that was as the lamb. He is referring to his future return when we will appear in the clouds, literally “raining” down from heaven as he comes to judge and rule the world.

A letter to one of the congregations in the Book of Revelation says that the hidden manna will be given to those who are victorious. This may be a reference to the fact that when Solomon placed the ark in the Temple, they looked inside the ark and the manna was not there. Yeshua is the manna hidden for now. He appeared but was hidden in his death and resurrection until that future time when he will appear again. Also, note that the manna was given in the wilderness to not only sustain our people but to test them. Yeshua as the Manna, will come to test and try the whole world!

We can be like the Israelites and get caught up in the worries of everyday life. We can forget that we are marching towards Sinai and that Hashem is providing for our needs. We can kvetch about water, bread, and meat. Our ancestors marched towards Mattan Torah, the Giving of the Torah. We are marching towards the Living Torah, Yeshua ha-Mashiach! And like Aaron, Yeshua is our Kohen Gadol (high priest) who has disappeared for a while but will reappear someday.

The solution is for us to partake of the hidden manna daily. Exodus 16:4-36 is called Parshat Ha-Man, the portion of scripture about manna. Our Sages say that we should read this parsha daily to remind us of Hashem’s providence. This reminds us of Yeshua’s prayer where he says, “Give us today our daily bread.” This clearly tells us to not be consumed with worry, but the Greek word translated as “daily” here is “epiousion”. This is an unusual word, only used in two places in the Besorah. It could literally mean “The Bread to Come”; a reference to the hidden manna, Yeshua the Hidden Manna to come! We sustain ourselves on his power and grace.

In our daily struggles and concerns of life, may we not lose sight of the fact that we are marching towards a destiny; the Living Torah. May we rely on Hashem to provide our daily bread. May we rely on that “epiousion” bread, the bread to come, who is the Hidden Manna, our Risen Messiah. May we keep our eyes on that day when he will indeed rain down like manna from heaven and reign as king over Israel and all the earth! Shabbat Shalom.