Exodus 16:20 in the King James Version reads, "Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them."

This verse comes in the context of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the promised land. After being freed from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites found themselves in the dessert, and they began to complain to Moses and Aaron about the lack of food. In response to their grumbling, God provided manna, a miraculous bread-like substance that appeared on the ground each morning. The Israelites were instructed to gather just enough manna for each day, with the exception of the day before the Sabbath when they were to gather enough for two days since there wouldn't be any manna on the Sabbath. However, some of them disregarded this instruction and tried to gather extra manna. Exodus 16:20 describes the consequences of their disobedience.

This verse reveals several important themes that are relevant not just for the Israelites in the wilderness, but for believers of all time. The first theme is obedience. The Israelites were given clear instructions from God through Moses, yet some of them chose to ignore those instructions. This resulted in the manna turning bad, illustrating the consequences of disobedience. This teaches us the importance of obeying God's commands, and the danger of going against His word. The Apostle Paul later writes in the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 10:11, that these events were written down as examples for us, as a warning to not make the same mistakes.

Another theme in this verse is provision and trust. The manna provided by God was a miraculous provision for the Israelites. It was a daily reminder of God's faithfulness and care for His people. However, the incident described in Exodus 16:20 shows a lack of trust in God's provision. The Israelites who gathered extra manna were essentially demonstrating a lack of trust in God's promise to provide for them each day. This serves as a reminder for us to trust in God's provision and to be content with what He gives us. Jesus Himself taught His disciples to pray for their daily bread, emphasizing the need for trust in God's provision.

The verse also presents the theme of consequences. The disobedience of the Israelites had real consequences - the manna bred worms and stank. This highlights the principle of reaping what we sow. Our actions have consequences, both in the physical and spiritual realm. The Israelites' disobedience resulted in wasted food, a foul smell, and the displeasure of Moses. Similarly, when we disobey God's commands, we can expect negative consequences in our lives. This should serve as a warning to us to carefully consider our actions and to strive for obedience to God's word.

Symbolically, the manna itself can be seen as a type of Christ, as Jesus refers to Himself as the "bread of life" in John 6:35. In the New Testament, the manna is used as a symbol of God's provision and grace. The gathering of the manna teaches us to seek spiritual nourishment from Christ, who provides for our daily needs. Just as the Israelites were to gather the manna daily, we are called to continually seek and rely on Christ for our spiritual nourishment.

In conclusion, Exodus 16:20 is a verse with rich themes and lessons for us as believers. It teaches us about the importance of obedience, trust in God's provision, the consequences of disobedience, and the symbolism of the manna as a type of Christ. It serves as a reminder for us to trust in God's faithfulness and to walk in obedience to His word.