A Listening Problem
Published January 19, 2026
Exodus 16
Monday, January 19, 2026 | Beth Grace
My mother loved to tell the story of the time she carried me to the pediatrician, worried that I might be losing my hearing. As it turned out, I wasn’t going deaf at all. The doctor assured her that my hearing was fine—
I simply had a listening problem.
The children of Israel struggled with the same issue. In verse 19, God instructed them to gather only enough manna for each day, yet some collected more than they needed. Their actions revealed a lack of trust in God’s provision, and by the next morning, the extra manna had become wormy and foul (verse 20). Others tried to gather manna on the Sabbath, only to find none at all. Like them, we often attempt to meet our needs in the wrong way or at the wrong time.
Listening and obeying aren’t always easy, but God’s boundaries are not meant to limit us—they are meant to protect us. Our obedience today serves as an example for future generations. Verse 33 reminds us that God intended the manna to be remembered, a testimony of His faithfulness. Just as parents desire their children to surpass them, we should long for those who follow us to walk even more faithfully with the Lord.
The legacy we leave is far more than money or possessions. Consider the “manna” we are passing down to our children and grandchildren. A spiritual inheritance is priceless—and it begins with listening to and trusting God.
The children of Israel struggled with the same issue. In verse 19, God instructed them to gather only enough manna for each day, yet some collected more than they needed. Their actions revealed a lack of trust in God’s provision, and by the next morning, the extra manna had become wormy and foul (verse 20). Others tried to gather manna on the Sabbath, only to find none at all. Like them, we often attempt to meet our needs in the wrong way or at the wrong time.
The word manna in Hebrew literally means, “What is it?”
For Israel, manna was physical nourishment, but it also represents God’s supernatural provision. God often provides in ways that confound human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:27). He delights in blessing those who listen and follow His instructions.
Listening and obeying aren’t always easy, but God’s boundaries are not meant to limit us—they are meant to protect us. Our obedience today serves as an example for future generations. Verse 33 reminds us that God intended the manna to be remembered, a testimony of His faithfulness. Just as parents desire their children to surpass them, we should long for those who follow us to walk even more faithfully with the Lord.
The legacy we leave is far more than money or possessions. Consider the “manna” we are passing down to our children and grandchildren. A spiritual inheritance is priceless—and it begins with listening to and trusting God.