Psalms 78:24
And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
Psalms 78:24
Verse 24: “And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.” The sea of manna is a defining memory of God’s generosity in the wilderness. The manna—the “bread from heaven”—was a daily, gracious provision, teaching dependence on God for sustenance. The wording emphasizes abundance and variety in God’s care, presenting manna as “the corn of heaven” that sustains the people. The historical event occurs immediately after God’s people questioned whether He could provide bread, linking trust with experience. The psalmist is deliberately recounting God’s patient provision to show the gap between God’s generosity and human reluctance to trust.
This verse underscores the grace aspect of God’s covenant—God gives generously even when hearts are slow to trust. It reinforces the biblical motif that salvation and sustenance come as gifts from a gracious God, not as earned wages. The manna narrative also foreshadows God’s sustaining faithfulness through all generations and points forward to the spiritual bread that satisfies deeper hunger.
Practical applications:
- Cultivate an attitude of daily dependence on God’s provision.
- Practice gratitude for ordinary gifts: meals, health, work, community.
- Share resources with those in need as an expression of trust in God’s abundance.
- Reflect on how spiritual hunger can be fed by God’s word, prayer, and worship in addition to physical food.
Cross-References: Exodus 16:14-31; Psalm 105:40; John 6:31-35; Nehemiah 9:15