And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. - Deuteronomy 8:2-4

"...let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

What was God's Purpose in Letting Them Hunger?

The phrase “he humbled you and let you hunger” is crucial. God deliberately allowed Israel to experience lack—not because He had abandoned them, but to expose their hearts and teach them dependence on Him. The purpose of their hunger was to show them their need, to test their faith, and to make them see that their true life was not sustained by food alone, but by God’s provision. Moses reminds them that manna was something entirely unfamiliar ("which you did not know, nor did your fathers know"). God did not merely provide conventional food but something miraculous to teach them that His provision is not limited to human expectations or natural means. This lesson was to break their reliance on worldly sustenance and shift their trust to divine provision.

What Does it Mean to "Live by Every Word That Comes from the Mouth of the Lord"?

This phrase does not simply mean that man should live by God's commands (though obedience is certainly part of it). Instead, it means that true life is sustained by trusting in God's sovereign will and providential care.

• The Israelites needed to see that it was God’s decree, not merely physical bread, that sustained them. The same God who commanded manna into existence could sustain them in any way He chose.
• It was a call to trust in God's faithfulness, even when circumstances seemed dire.
• Jesus later quotes this passage in Matthew 4:4, when Satan tempts Him to turn stones into bread. Christ refuses because He knows that His life is not dependent on food alone but on the will of His Father.

One way to apply this principle today is in the area of financial uncertainty or material need.

For example, a believer who loses their job or faces financial hardship may be tempted to trust only in their ability to secure income, rather than resting in God's providence. While working diligently and seeking employment is necessary, this passage reminds us that our ultimate sustenance comes not from our paycheck, but from God’s sovereign care.

Instead of giving in to anxiety or resorting to unethical means to survive, the believer must trust that God will provide in His way and in His timing, even if it looks different than expected—just as He provided manna in an unfamiliar form for Israel.

Jesus reinforces this same principle in the Sermon on the Mount:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:25-26, 33)

God still teaches believers dependence through trials
Just as Israel was tested in the wilderness, believers today go through challenges where they must rely on God rather than worldly security (James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:6-7).

Christ calls us to trust in God’s provision, not just material means
Jesus teaches that God’s care is not dependent on human effort alone, and believers must trust Him for their needs (Philippians 4:19).

Spiritual sustenance is more important than physical sustenance
Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, tells Satan in Matthew 4:4 that true life is found in God's Word, not just material provision. This means our greatest need is for Christ Himself, the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

Application

For believers today, this passage teaches:

• God sometimes allows seasons of difficulty to test and refine our faith.
• Our true sustenance is not from material resources but from trusting in God's sovereign care.
• God’s provision may come in unfamiliar or unexpected ways, but we must trust Him regardless.
• Obedience and dependence on God are inseparable—trusting in His provision means following His commands.