When the Manna Feels Uncertain

I’ve been thinking a lot about the Israelites in the wilderness lately.

More specifically, I’ve been thinking about manna — or “Man Hu,” as they would have said.

I keep wondering… how many nights did they go to bed thinking, “I wonder if there will be food tomorrow?” How many mornings did they wake up and try to gather more before finally realizing — it would show up again?

In hard seasons, God is always faithful. But when the literal or proverbial well runs low, I still find myself wondering, Will there be more?

How many times has God provided Man Hu for me — and yet I still doubt? Why?

Since it’s been on my heart, I decided to go back and read the story.

I opened up Exodus 16… and made it exactly one verse in.

Exodus 16:1 (CJB)
“They traveled on from Eilim, and the whole community of the people of Isra’el arrived at the Sin Desert, between Eilim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after leaving the land of Egypt.”

At first glance, it doesn’t seem like much — but I couldn’t shake how specific this verse is. It gives three distinct places in one line: Elim, the Desert of Sin, and Sinai.

So, being the curious person I am, I had to look deeper.

What I found fascinated me.

The Wilderness Between

The “Desert of Sin” comes from the Hebrew word סִין (Sin), pronounced “Seen.” It’s not connected to our English word sin. It’s a real location — a wilderness between Elim and Sinai.

It’s the in-between place.

But here’s what’s beautiful about it:

If you look at the Hebrew letters of סִין (Sin), they are Samech (ס) — support, surrounding, protection; Yod (י) — the hand of God, divine action; and Nun (ן) — life, seed, or faithfulness.

So the wilderness of Sin paints a picture of being surrounded and supported by God’s hand in a season meant to build faith.

What we often see as a wilderness we want to escape, God designs as a season of dependence — a time to form trust in His faithfulness.

And yet, I find myself asking, God, will You still show up tomorrow?

Every time, He does. Every time, there’s Man Hu — daily bread for the day’s need.

From Rest to Refinement to Revelation

To really grasp this, we have to look at where they came from and where they were headed.

Exodus 15:27
“Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.”

Elim represents a place of rest, provision, order, and refreshment.
It’s the kind of season we love — when everything feels full, stable, and good.

Then comes the wilderness of Sin — the in-between, the place of refinement and dependence.

And then, beyond that, is Sinai — the place of revelation. It’s where God encountered Moses and gave His instruction.

At Sinai, clarity comes.

Elim → Sin → Sinai.

It’s as if God is showing us a rhythm of spiritual growth:
Rest → Refinement → Revelation.

We all walk through these seasons. In the wilderness — that middle space — we learn to depend on God. We learn that He provides Man Hu, one day at a time.

The wilderness is the space between comfort and calling.

Learning to Stay in the Middle

And yet, we try to rush through these seasons.
We doubt.
We complain.

The Israelites did too.

Exodus 16:2
“There in the desert the whole community of the people of Isra’el grumbled against Moshe and Aharon.”

History really does repeat itself.

Because I don’t know about you — but I grumble too.

It’s easy to do.

We don’t like being utterly dependent on God — not when it feels like we can’t even feed ourselves. We don’t like when things are slow, uncertain, or out of our control.

But it’s in those seasons that transformation happens.
It’s in the wilderness that we become who God’s calling us to be.

And here’s the thing: those refining seasons always lead to revelation.

Correction Means Growth

The other day, our son was upset during a workout because his uncle (who was training him) kept correcting his form. He didn’t like being told to do it differently.

We told him, “Listen, buddy — your uncle’s correcting you because you’re ready for more. When you first started, he didn’t push you this way. But now you’re ready for the next step. Correction means growth.”

And it hit me — maybe the wilderness seasons in our lives are the same.
Maybe they only come when you’re ready for the next calling or clarity.

It’s cyclical.
You rest.
You’re refined.
Then you receive revelation and breakthrough.

Some seasons last longer than others, but they’re all God-ordained.

We love the rest seasons, but they don’t grow us.
The refining seasons — the wilderness ones — are what make us like Him.

If all we had was comfort, we’d stay spiritual infants.

The Seasons That Grow Us

We don’t grow in a straight line — we grow through seasons, just like trees.

Have you ever looked at the rings inside a tree trunk?
Each ring tells a story of seasons — spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Some seasons produce lighter, softer wood.
Some form harder, denser wood.
Some seasons seem still, producing almost no visible growth at all.

But every season matters.

Each one strengthens the tree.
Each one shapes what it’s becoming.
Each one proves it endured — and kept growing.

So if you’re in a wilderness season right now — in your business or your life — remember:

You’re not the only one.

Joseph was the favorite in his father’s house — a season of rest.
Then he was betrayed and imprisoned — a refining wilderness.
Then he was raised to lead — a season of revelation.

Moses grew up in the palace — rest.
Spent forty years in Midian — refinement.
Then stood before the burning bush — revelation.

The point is: we need every season. And we will go through each of them.

So if today finds you in a refining, wilderness season — remember this:

This season is precious.
It’s the season of the in-between.
And you are right where you need to be.

Embrace it.
Lean into your dependence on the Faithful One.

Because just like the Israelites, you’ll find Man Hu — the daily provision you need for today — and the promise that there will be more tomorrow.