“For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. As it is written, ‘He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack'” (2 Corinthians 8:13-15).
As the people of Old Testament Israel traveled through the wilderness on their way to the land of their inheritance, God miraculously sustained them by way of a frost-like substance called “manna.” Manna literally means “what is it” and the Biblical book of Exodus provides us with a description of this supernatural food source…
“…in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor… when the sun grew hot, it melted away… The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey” (Exodus 16:13-14, 21, 31 NIV).
This portion of Scripture serves as the basis for the analogy given to us here in 2 Corinthians 8:15. The specific reference is found in Exodus 16:16-18…
“These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent. So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed” (NLT).
Although God provided for the needs of both Old Testament Israel and the New Testament church, we should note that the method of distribution was not identical. You see, the Israelites had direct access to God’s provision in the book of Exodus while His provision for the Christians of first-century Judea came through other members of the church. Nevertheless, the objective remained the same in both instances: every person in need would receive what he or she required.
Unlike the economic redistribution efforts that have characterized various social and political movements over the years, this passage highlights the simple, voluntary, non-coercive nature of New Testament financial giving: “You have more than you need now. When you have need, then they can help you. You should share alike” (NLV).