The 40 years in the wilderness was a time to discipline and humble the people of Israel (v1-3). The provision of manna caused the people to see their great need of relying fully on the Lord and to learn that the most thing is not physical bread but the food of God’s Word (v3). This was the verse Jesus quoted to Satan when the devil tempted Jesus to break His period of fasting and turn stones into bread. Jesus using this verse was a reminder that the spiritual needs are more important than the physical. Which do you spend more time looking after, your physical or spiritual needs?

God’s provision in even their clothes not wearing out over 40 years in the wilderness (v4), pointed forward to much greater blessing to come if they would remain faithful (v5-10).

The danger of wealth and the feeling that they were self-sufficient is spoken of here (v11-20). The danger of forgetting the Lord when we have days of blessing and ease is always before us. We need to constantly seek to cultivate an attitude of total dependence on the Lord.