Bread from heaven ∙

Bread from heaven ∙

In the morning you shall be filled with bread, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God. – Exodus 16:12

Exodus 16:13-15

 13 So it came about . . . In the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.

 14 When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground.

 15 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.”

“The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys” (Malcolm S. Forbes).

So often, people are not satisfied with what they have. It seems that they always want something else, something more. When does this begin? It seems to set in at a very young age. Commonly, a child is not satisfied with their toys for very long. They often want something different, particularly what somebody else has. The point is that whatever we have is never enough.

So it was with the children of Israel in the wilderness. They had just witnessed ten of the greatest miracles of the Old Testament. That was soon followed by the amazing miracle of the opening of the Red Sea, allowing them to escape Pharaoh’s army while destroying it simultaneously. They had been set free and given liberty from their taskmasters. They were no longer slaves to the Egyptians. Were they grateful? Did they give thanks and praise to the Father? No! They complained and were not satisfied with what they had.

Exodus 16:2-3

 2 The whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.

 3 “If only the LORD had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”

Whatever gratitude they had did not last long. Rather than being thankful for what they had, they focused on what they did not have. It seems incredulous. Until we do a little introspection, examine our own hearts, and recognize we do the same thing.

The Father graciously gave them what they asked for.

Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day.”

Exodus 16:14-15

 14 When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground.

 15 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

The Father has a sense of humor that bubbles to the surface now and then. He is delightfully playful numerous times. As HE observes the people walking about questioning, wondering what they see, they keep asking, “What is this, please?” That is, “Ma-na, ma-na, Ma-na”? He simply says that is what you will call it – Manna.

Manna was the bread of heaven. It was a supernatural provision that lasted for 40 years. But it was much more. It was a prophecy, a picture that one day, the Father would provide a far more wonderful and satisfying bread of heaven.

Deuteronomy 8:3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

How can we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord?

REFLECT & PRAY

“When Jesus called Himself ‘The Living Bread,’ He was not claiming to be exactly like the manna. He was claiming to be even greater!” (Wiersbe)!

Father thank You for providing the True Bread of Heaven, your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for drawing each child of the King to the Lord Jesus Christ.

INSIGHT

In John 6, an exchange ensues between the Jewish religious leaders and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ultimately, the Lord Jesus Christ claims to be sent by the Father as the true bread which comes out of heaven.

He tells the crowd that the Father wants them to believe in the One He sent. The crowd responds. They challenge Him. Since He made such extraordinary claims, they ask to show us a sign that we would believe in You.

Speaking of bread, it brings to mind when the Father provided the heavenly bread, manna, through Moses.

John 6:35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

They began to murmur. Unified consensus eluded. They could not fully agree because they knew He was Joseph and Mary’s son. How can he say He came from heaven? How can he make such a claim?

Reacting to these doubts, the Lord Jesus Christ makes even bolder statements. Some have thought there is a suggestion of cannibalism.

But the mystery of this passage is found within it. When understood, it explains itself, and the secret is resolved.

John 6:53-58

 53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.”

 54 “But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.”

 55 “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.”

 58 “I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did even though they ate the manna but will live forever.”

This discussion revolves around understanding and embracing the true bread of heaven. There’s no physical bread here, only the presence of Lord Jesus Christ. He does not intend for them to eat Him or drink His blood.

John 6:35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

To cease to be hungry, to eat is to come to Him. To cease to be thirsty, to drink is to believe in Him.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 6-16-1

© Dr. H 2023