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As the Jewish people trek further away from Mitzraim, they start complaining to Moshe and Aharon about the lack of food. Hashem promises to shower them with “bread from the heavens” – the Man, and the verse adds: למען אנסנו הילך בתורתי אם לא – “and thus I will test [the nation], will it follow my Torah or not…” How does the Man, a heavenly delicacy, test the Jewish people’s ability to conform to Hashem’s laws?
Hacham Sasson Mordechai זצ”ל, the revered 19th century sage from Baghdad, in his classic Mussar work “Kol Sasson” cites the Gemara in Makkot 24a which states that the prophet Havakuk distilled all of the Torah’s commandments into one imperative: “צדיק באמונתו יחיה” – ”a righteous man shall live by his faith”. Most sins, says Hacham Mordechai, are a result of one’s lack of faith and trust in Hashem. When a person forgets that Hashem guarantees his needs and livelihood, he panics to try and fend for himself, sometimes resorting to bribery, lies, theft, lashon hara or other wrongdoings. If one wants to remain faithful to the Torah and its commandments, and not be tempted by the seeming effectiveness of sin, one must strengthen their faith and internalize that everything is in Hashem’s hands.
This was the ultimate test served with the Man. If the Jewish nation would be strong enough to trust Hashem with their families’ daily sustenance, then they will surely be strong enough to withstand sin and unethical behavior. Indeed, those who weren’t ready just yet, tried breaking the rules by seeking the Man on Shabbat or saving Man from one day to the next, defying Moshe’s orders. They were fortunate to see first-hand that Hashem undeniably provides for every being with benevolence and precision. We too can rest assured that we are in Hashem’s hands and strengthen our Emunah and Bitahon– the pillar of our commitment to Torah and Mitzvot.