מן represents parnassah and as the Yerushalmi states one who says the parsha of מן every day is assured that his food won’t be lacking.
The Levush says this teaches us that Hashem provides each day’s sustenance just as He did with the מן each day in the desert. Indeed, on Tuesday Parshas Beshalach we say פרשת המן as a segulah for parnassah.
We are told in regard to the מן that everyone gathered according to how much he eats whether they took more or less. The portion for everyone was the same: an Omer. The same applies with parnassah as it is fixed from Rosh Hashanah whether we put in more effort or not.
This is alluded to in the custom of dipping our Challah in honey: Our parnassah is set from Rosh Hashana and the מן represents reliance on Hashem. In regard to the מן (symbolizing Challah) it says דבשכצפיחת ב, like a cake fried in honey. Dipping the Challah in honey represents that we rely on Hashem for parnassah. It comes as no surprise that מן is from the term אמונה. Indeed, מן הוא comprises the word אמונה. We are taught it is called מן because מן הוא, meaning it is beyond intellect, complete Emuna.
It is interesting to note the word מן and money sound similar as if they are related.
With acquiring this Emuna one attains the proper outlook. In the town of Brisk a fire broke out and it seemed a neighboring store would be burned down. The investor told the storeowner, “I’ll buy half of your goods for a cheaper price and if your store burns down, I’ll lose out. However, if it doesn’t then I gain.” He declined the offer. In the end the store didn’t burn down making the owner feel smart and arrogant. R’ Chaim Brisker said that really what he did wasn’t smart. According to the laws of nature it should have burned down and therefore he should have sold it. He said that we see that if there is a decree from Hashem not to lose your money, you won’t lose it even if you are foolish.
Parshas Beshalach, which speaks about the מן, is saturated with Emuna in addition to what we already mentioned. The end of Parshas Beshalach deals with Amalek who is the opposite of Emuna.
The Jews asked אין ה' בקרבנו אם היש, is Hashem in our midst or not. This was a problem in Emuna. Therefore, the next words are ויבא עמלק, the antithesis of Emuna. This originates from the nachash by whom it says השיאני. Examining this word we notice it is composed of היש and אין. How does Parshas Beshalach end? With עד בא השמש ויהי ידיו אמונה, Moshe implanted Emuna into us until Moshiach arrives.
