The answer is: God stopped providing manna

Josh 5:12 - Now they enjoyed the produce of the land.

Once the Israelites camped in the Promised Land and celebrated the Passover, there was a monumental shift. The tradition of manna falling from the skies was delightful yet dependent on their wandering lifestyle. After this pivotal moment, the cessation of manna symbolized a new era: they were now living off the land that God had promised them.

A while back, they lived on miraculous sustenance in the desert—a food likened to coriander seed, sweet like honey (Exodus 16:31). Just picture the surprise of those Israelites who stepped into this land, surrounded by orchards, fields, and bountiful harvests. Suddenly, instead of just waiting for daily provisions, they were crusted with dirt and immersed in planting, tending, and gathering.

Interestingly, the timing of manna's end right after Passover reflects a deeper narrative in their spiritual journey. The Passover celebrated liberation from oppression, and subsequently halting manna meant they were not just free as nomads but as stewards of a fertile land.

What’s fascinating is that this moment also resonates with themes we see throughout Scripture. For instance, the idea of a harvest season—a God providing for his people through the earth—is echoed continuously, further seen in Gospel stories where Jesus discusses sowing seeds and reaping spiritual bounty.

It’s engaging to envision how grateful they must have been, not just for physical food, but for a promise fulfilled, bursting with unfathomable potential for a future they could cultivate in partnership with the land and each other.