It is kind of a natural question when you encounter something strange; “What is that?” Especially when it looks like nothing you have seen before. When I was growing up, there were some dinners that were full of that question. Four children looking at strange meat and asking “What is that?” My parents were poor and if we were going to eat meat – and the doctor told them that I got pneumonia because I wasn’t eating enough meat – it was going to be the cheap, interesting meat. So, a cow tongue sat there on a serving plate. My mom didn’t know that you were supposed to skin that thing. And four young voices rang out with “Whazit?” My mom would respond with “It’s beef, now eat it.” And we did, because we knew that our parents were not going to whip up something else or run out to McDonalds and purchase a Happy Meal. My mom was not about to lie to us so when we stared at a cow’s heart and asked “Whazit?” we heard the same answer, “It’s beef, now eat it.” We learned that the answer “it’s beef” meant my mom thought we wouldn’t like the more succinct answer. She was pretty much right. What four year old wants to know they are eating cow tongue, heart, or liver?
Exodus 16:13-21 is the narrative account of Yahweh keeping his promise to provide meat and bread. When evening came a covey of quail covered the whole camp. As is often the case with the miracles of God, people will go searching for natural explanations. And this particular miracle may have its origins in the natural migration of the Egyptian quail. But it is not natural for this many birds to make up a covey; it is not natural for them to land in the midst of a large camp of people. We know that the Egyptians would scare the exhausted birds into flight and then easily snag them with nets. We don’t know how the Israelites caught them. Here, the quail are barely mentioned before the account goes on to describe the manna and gathering instruction. But we have enough to know that Yahweh keeps his promises and he provides for his people.
In the morning there was a layer of dew all around the camp. When the dew disappeared, there was a layer of thin scale-like stuff, which was white as frost, laying upon the surface of the wilderness. Again, people will search for natural explanations. My favorite is that some desert bugs will excrete a honey-dew like substance. Other sources will describe a gum exuded from a tarfa-tree that tastes like honey, is white in color, and is highly prized by desert dwellers. The tarfa-tree exudes this substance in very small quantities and not every year. A natural explanation may be a beginning point, but it can in no way explain what is described here. The point of the passage is to demonstrate the miraculous providence of Yahweh.
When the Israelites woke up and looked around and saw this white stuff all over the ground they quite naturally asked “What is it?” The Hebrew for this question is pronounced man hu. They ask because this stuff was like nothing they had ever seen. And if you see a bunch of white stuff all over the ground, you are not going to just assume that its edible. It might be bug excretions for crying out loud. Or bird droppings. Moses tells them that it is the bread that Yahweh has given them to eat. It doesn’t look like any bread they had ever seen. So, when they get around to naming the stuff, they don’t name it bread; they name it “Whazit?” Then Moses gives them the rules for gathering. They are to gather an omer – about 2 dry quarts – for each person in the tent. And here is the amazing thing: no matter how much or how little they gather, it ends up being an omer; just enough. They are told not to keep any until the next morning and of course some do just that and the stuff is full of worms or maggots. Mmmm! And it develops a stench. Nice!
Okay, so here are the main lessons discovered in this passage: Yahweh keeps his promises and provides. Yahweh often provides in a way that is not at all familiar and we are left asking “Whazit?” When we find out it is from God, will we gather; eat; follow his instructions? Can we trust in the one who brings us the unfamiliar? Or, will we say, “No thanks, I’ll wait for the regular bread; the bread I’m used to?” Jesus is the bread of life. When he told people they would have to consume him to have life, the people didn’t just say “Whazit?”, they walked away. That is mighty strange bread God. And what kind of life are we talking about? Life that dies! “Whazit you say?” Do you follow or walk away? And God is not going to go out and buy you a Happy Meal because you want what is familiar. Eat the bread of life! Whazit? Jesus! Peace.