EXODUS 16:11-36 THIS IS THE BREAD There is a hunger in every man, woman and child that cannot be ignored. Physical hunger makes itself known in a number of ways. It begins with a feeling of emptiness within. Then comes a tiredness that soon turns into weakness. There are twinges of physical feelings that occasionally become sharp pangs of pain. The body sends out its signals that something is lacking and before long that hunger consumes every thought and every action is directed to take that hunger away. It is the same way with spiritual hunger. In the soul of every person there has been implanted a desire for God. We have been made by God for God, and consequently there is a hunger for God. But in this deceitful world there are found those things that are offered to take the place of bread, the staff of life. In Egypt, the children of Israel had leeks, melons and garlic that attracted their taste but did not meet their basic need. Much that the world system offers as "spiritual food," is only to satisfy the desire for pleasure and is attractive to the fleshly tastes we have but does not satisfy the fundamental need we have for God Himself.
The "bread which came down from heaven" has the ability to give life to the world. There is such abundance of supply in God that everyone can eat and be filled. It has been provided for all and is available to all. Emotional attractions, intellectual pursuits do not make us spiritually satisfied. Those things either come from other people or from our own minds. Spiritual needs can only be satisfied by gathering what God has provided. Truth is an important part of what we need to function effectively for God in the world, but what we need most is God Himself who is the Truth. When one hungers and thirsts after righteousness they are filled. To gather the manna, the bread from heaven, one needed to rise from where they were, leave what they were doing, and go to where the bread was found.
In the camp of Israel, there would be movement among the people in the dark moments just before the dawn. From each tent the people would emerge to go outside the door to gather the life-giving bread. There weren't great clumps of manna, but small, round provisions to be gathered one small piece at a time until put together there would be full and plenty for all the household. "This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat." Each one had a certain need. The children would eat one amount, each other member of the household would have different needs, and yet from the same source there was easily digested food that had an attractive flavor and could fully satisfy. How like "the bread of God" we are able to gather for ourselves this manna is. Each new day brings new needs. God knows what is needed for the individual person and has made provision to meet that need. It is there for each of us to take.
There is a time to gather what God has provided. There is a time to prepare it to make its truths understandable and applicable. There is a time for eating and there is a time for meditating upon what we have taken in for ourselves. The bread of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, doesn't come to us to satisfy the spiritual hunger in our souls with a great rush of wind or fire or storm or earthquake that breaks the rocks around us. He comes and feeds our souls when all other voices are silent and the life-giving sustenance is there for us to reach out for in faith and take it for ourselves. We feed on Him, His purity, His completeness, His perfections, His sweetness, His holiness, His very life until He is formed in us. We do not have to find some high mountain to climb to find that bread. There is no secret valley floor or particularly green pasture we have to search for to find that which is needed for our soul. "But what saith it, the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is the word of faith that we preach." When we come to Him who is the Bread of God, we will not hunger or thirst, for He supplies all the spiritual nutrients we need for effective life and light in the Christian walk here on earth.
What is it that covers the ground all around? It came here during the night watch without a sound. It lies there for the taking, small, white, sweet and round - It is the life-giving bread from God.
I don't have to pray for it, it is daily there. There is all I need and even more to spare. As far as I know there is nothing can compare - With the life-giving bread from God.
It is easy to gather; all I have to do is bow and take it. I can prepare it in a pan, or boil or bake it. There is no way to store it up or make something to fake it - It is uniquely the life-giving bread from God.
To try and keep it over so I won't have to go for more, Is wasted effort to try and save it up in store. It can always be found just outside the door - Where God places the life-giving bread from God.
It comes from the storehouse of God's abundant supply. The value is far more than all my money could buy. Its effect is always good when I take time to try To claim for myself the life-giving bread from God.
That bread for me can be found in God's Word when I read. Christ becomes real in special ways when His truth I heed The truths revealed of Him on whom my soul and spirit feed - Give me life-giving bread from God.
"Gracious Father, the blessings I get from the Bread of God, the Living Bread, who has come down from heaven to feed us, are more than I can number. I thank Thee that when the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed more fully to me through Thy Word by the Holy Spirit, I can personally experience spiritual strength for this day. I praise thee for this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."