I was actually just reading this section yesterday, and it did say that when the day before the Sabbath came, they were to collect extra, and eat what they needed that day, and set aside the rest for the Sabbath. No one was to go out to gather manna on that day, as it was a day of rest. When those who followed those simple commands opened up the manna the next day, it was fine. It seems that the manna only spoiled when they didn’t follow directions. This was a test to see if they would do what God said. And notice, the manna didn’t spoil when God decreed that it wouldn’t spoil. In that case, it’s very possible that the manna that was stored in that container never spoiled. Just thought I’d throw that out there…
In Exodus 16:33-34, it does indeed say that it was intended to be preserved for all future generations. If that was God’s intent, you can bet He’d be able to cause it not to decay if He didn’t want it to. In the NLT, it actually says that Aaron did eventually place it inside the Ark.
Ex. 16:33-34 (NLT) Moses said to Aaron, “Get a container and put two quarts of manna into it. Then store it in a sacred place as a reminder for all future generations.” 34 Aaron did this, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. He eventually placed it for safekeeping in the Ark of the Covenant.
Hebrews 9:4 (KJV and NLT) actually says, “which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.”
Also, as a side comment about the Ark of the Covenant vs. Noah’s Ark…regardless of the fact that two different Hebrew words were used, if you think about it, both Arks resembled a covenant. The Ark of the Covenant stood for the rules by which the covenant between God and Abraham’s seed operated, and Noah’s Ark represented a promise to ensure that the human race survived.
…And, of course, the rainbow was the sign of His covenant to never again flood the Earth to destroy it and its inhabitants because of their wickedness. In other words, God’s Mercy. I just like to point that out now and again, just in case there are those who are still confused as to what, exactly, the rainbow is supposed to stand for. Just saying.
Ostentatious displays of miracles aught not occur. The book (not the one referred to above) points out that the Babel Fish (a universal translator) could not possibly have developed naturally, and therefore proves the existence of God as its creator. However, as Man points out, God needs faith to exist, and this proof dispels the need for faith, therefore causing God to vanish in a puff of logic. Then Man says, “my, that was easy” and goes on to prove that black is white, and gets killed on the next zebra crossing.
You mean, farting a universe out of his non-material anus wasn’t ostentatious? What does our Divine Creator do for party tricks then… create planets with perfect societies that reflect his wonderous glory, maybe?
There are ancient Jewish (non-biblical) texts that describe the actual machine used to “make manna”. The machine has been reproduced and it actually functions as a device that makes a very specific algae that is a complete nutritional source for humans. The algae is, separately, being made in experiments to determine it’s possible use as a food for humans on extended space flight. Without explaining all of this (from info online dating back to 2001-2), the manna machine was probably powered by the device represented by the Ark of the Covenant.
It is suspected that this device (placed in the Ark) was not just dropped from the heavens, but was in fact stored in the granite sarcophagus in the kings chamber of the great pyramid, and taken out of Egypt by Moses when he left. The Ark was built to specifications of other Arks (an Egyptian tradition) that were used to carry the Egyptian “power of God” into battle, before Moses ever entered into the picture.
It is now also suspected that the great pyramid was actually a machine that manufactures hydrogen, which was powered internally. Could it be the device carried in the Ark of the Covenant that powered that hydrogen manufacturing? Look at the web and get updated and if you end up not believing any of this, at least it won’t be me you don’t believe, but others with more time to research and report than I do.
What!?
First, does this machine make manna, a specific algae, or manufacture hydrogen? No wait… it powers the great pyramid which in turn produces hydrogen. Ok? Which they used for…? Why do they need a machine to produce hydrogen anyway? I can produce it with some zinc and sulfuric acid at home.
Spam?
Obviously, to fill up the enormous papyrus balloons attached to the top of the pyramids. Et voila, flying pyramids! The pyramids were filled with yetis, sasquatches, chupacabras and various lake monsters, and flown around the world and deposited in geographically diverse areas to test their ability to survive. The floating pyramids became the inspiration for the Nazca lines and the numerous examples of UFOs in art for centuries.