Thursday, July 28, 2016
Exodus 16:4, 31 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not" ... And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
THE MANNA
I am amazed at both the volume and the variety of bread available to us today. I'm also convinced that we sometimes take our bread and food for granted because it is so readily available.
When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness they were far from a bakery. They were dependent upon the LORD to provide them with both bread and meat. The LORD provided quail (sufficient to feed perhaps 2 million) in the evening and bread in the morning. The Israelites called the bread from heaven "Manna." It was food that kept their bodies alive providing necessary nourishment and it even tasted good.
It was a miracle the Israelites didn't forget. So when the Lord Jesus appeared, the doubters of His day demanded that He prove Himself by a sign. They even went so far as to suggest the sign: Perhaps He could send bread from heaven.
Jesus explained that the Manna was a picture of the true Bread from Heaven. He was (and is) the true Bread sent by God from Heaven (John 6:32-35, NKJV):
"Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.' Then they said to Him, 'Lord, give us this bread always.' And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'"
The Manna was just bread, miraculously provided by God. It served to extend the lives of the Israelites by providing nourishment, but it could not keep death at bay. Jesus is the true Bread from Heaven, who has come down to satisfy our need for spiritual food and righteousness to stand before God. He delivers from death and promises us life eternal. Those who feed on His Word have comfort in the face of death and confidence to face each day.
Free and without cost to us!
