20 Aug EIKEV: MANNA FROM HEAVEN

The One Who feeds
you manna in the
desert…in order to
test you. (Devarim
8:16)
Everyone knows that
life is a test. We
struggle to make a living, to raise our children,
to build up our communities. Nothing comes
easy, and our test is to deal with the hardships
and frustrations in the best way possible.
But what if our livelihood were served up to
us on a silver platter? How wonderful that
would be! No more worries about how to pay
for the children’s tuition or the new roof. What
if everything we needed came to us like manna
from heaven? Would we consider this a test?
Hardly. We would consider it a blessing. The
Torah, however, seems to say otherwise.
No sooner had the Jewish people come forth
from Egypt that they complained (Shemos
16:3), “If only we had died by the hand of G-d
in the land of Egypt when we were sitting
beside the fleshpots, when we ate our fill of
bread; now you have brought us out into the
desert to let the entire congregation starve to
death.”

“Behold, I will rain down bread from the
heavens on you,” Hashem replied (ibid. 16:4).
“The people shall go out to collect their daily
portion every day, in order to test whether or
not they will follow My Torah.”
The commentators wonder what kind of test
this is. What could be better than having
everything you need delivered to your doorstep
every day? This is a test? This is a blessing!
Rashi explains that Hashem was referring to
the laws that govern the manna. One could not
store away any manna for the next day. One
had to collect a double portion on Friday. And
so forth. This was the test. Would the Jewish
people observe the laws of the manna
scrupulously?
This test is also mentioned in Parashas Eikev,
“The One Who feeds you manna in the
desert…in order to test you.” Sforno explains
that the test is to see if the Jews would still
follow the Torah when they do not have to
worry about their livelihood.
Yes, there is a great test in “bread raining
down from heaven.” Affluence without effort
is a dangerous thing. It comes with a great
amount of leisure time and freedom of action.

What do we do with that
leisure time and that
freedom of action? Do we
use our leisure time and
freedom of action to taste
the forbidden? This is the
great test of the manna.
We are all aware of the test
of poverty. We are all aware
of the trials and tribulations
of being poor. However,
says Sforno, affluence also
comes with great
temptations. It puts a
tremendous responsibility
on a person. This is the test
of the manna, and it is the
test for many Jews in these affluent times.
The Chovos Halevavos writes in Shaar
Habitachon that one of the reasons people,
unlike birds and animals, must make a great
effort to earn their livelihood is to control the
yetzer hara. If we had too much time on our
hands, we would be unable to resist the
temptations he puts before us.
As it is, we are either too busy or too tired
most of the time. And even then, it is a struggle

to resist temptation.
The Maggid of Mezritch once said that when
people face troubles, sickness or mortal
danger, Heaven forbid, they all become
religious. They all come to shul. They pray
fervently. They say Tehillim with tears
streaming down their cheeks. They give
charity generously. But when things are going
well, when they are going wonderfully, do
they give much thought to the Almighty? This
is the test of the manna.