Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

MANNA

A symbol of goodness and truth, or higher emotion for the sustenance of the soul.

"Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no." - EXOD. xvi. 4.

The rational and ethical nature (Moses) is made acquainted with the coming of the spiritual nature. From the buddhic plane will proceed an outpouring of truth and high emotion to energise and sustain the qualities in accordance with their rate of preparedness in each stage of their progress. This will fully prove them whether they are ready to harmonise themselves with the spiritual law of wisdom and love.

“Referring to the allegorical 'manna' or heavenly food, the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat' (Exod. xvi. 13). Philo writes: Dost thou not see the food of the soul, what it is? It is the Continuing Reason (Logos) of God, like unto dew, encircling the whole of it [the soul] on all sides, and suffering no part of it to be without its share of it the Logos)' (From Leg. Alleg., § 59). - MEAD, T. G. Hermes, Vol. I. p. 246.

“There is also a spiritual manna, the dew that is of spiritual Wisdom, which descends from heaven upon those who sincerely seek for it, and which waters the souls of the righteous, and puts sweetness into their mouths. Wherefore, he who comprehends this out-pouring of divine wisdom receives pleasure from it, nor requires any other food, 'nor lives by bread alone, but by every word of God.'" - ST. AMBROSE, Letters, p. 395.

“By the hidden manna, which they will have who are in good works, and who at the same time adjoin the truths of doctrine to works, is meant hidden wisdom of a quality like that which they who are in the third heaven enjoy." - SWEDENBORG, Apocalypse Revealed, n. 120.

“Faith will produce just such effects (of home-sickness). In exact proportion to its strength, that living trust in God will direct our thoughts and desires to the 'King in His beauty, and the land that is very far off.' In proportion as our thoughts and desires are thus directed, they will be averted from what is round about us; and the more longingly our eyes are fixed on the furthest horizon, the less shall we see flowers at our feet. To behold God pales the otherwise dazzling lustre of created brightness. They whose souls are fed with heavenly manna, and who have learned that it is their necessary food, will scent no dainties in the fleshpots of Egypt, for all their rank garlic and leeks." - A. MACLAREN, Sermons, 2nd Series, p. 140.

"Paul tells us that the manna of which the Israelites ate in the wilderness was to them a type and lively symbol of 'the bread of life' (1 COR. x. 3). They did all eat the same spiritual meat -i.e. meat which was intended not only to support their natural lives, but to point them to Him who was the life of their souls. Now, Clement of Alexandria, to whom we are largely indebted for all the discoveries that, in modern times, have been made in Egypt, expressly assures us that, 'in their hidden character, the enigmas of the Egyptians were very similar to those of the Jews' (Clem. Alex., Vol. III. p. 56)." - A. HISLOP, Two Babylons, p. 161.

“Yet he (the Lord) commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven; and he rained down manna upon them to eat, and gave them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat the bread of the mighty: he sent them meat to the full. - Ps. lxxviii. 23-5.

This "parable ' signifies the out-pouring of truth and goodness on the evolving qualities of the soul in the arena of life.

See Also

ARK OF TESTIMONY
BREAD
BUDDHIC PLANE
CAKE
CORN
DEW
EATING
FOOD
HONEY
MEAT
MOSES
RAIN
ROCK (spiritual)
SACRAMENTAL CAKES
SHEWBREAD
SKY