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The Bread of Life - Exodus 16 - John 6
The Bread of Life - Exodus 16 - John 6
Israel was given bread from heaven.
· John 6:31 31 "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.'"
· John 6:49 49 "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
· John 6:58 58 "This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever."
· Psalms 78:25 – called the bread of angels.
o 25 Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance.
Historical significance:
· AS IT IS WRITTEN: quoting Ps 78:24; Exod. 16:4, 15; Neh. 9:15; Ps 105:40. This give historical veracity to the text, you can trust what you read.
· Miracles of the Exodus and Wilderness did happen. (see also 1Cor. 10:1-4)
· Such manna not only provided the necessary food to sustain them in the wilderness but was a test. (Exod. 16:4).
· Israel FAILED the test. (Exod. 16:27-28) – they were Unthankful, Grumbled, Disobeyed.
Exodus 16:4 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.
Several guidelines to this gift from heaven: - (gifts often come with conditions to receive!)
· Gather ONLY as much as could eat THAT DAY (trust God to provide it again the next day!) Ex. 16:16
· NOT to leave any, but eat it all that day (again, trust God to provide it again the next day!). Ex. 16:19
· NOT go out to gather on the Sabbath day, but gather twice as much on the 6th day in preparation. Ex. 16:25-26.
Hence, Deuteronomy 8:3 3 "He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.
This Jesus quoted and applied when tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread (Matt. 4:6). Such was NOT from God, but from Satan. It is better to obey God and be hungry than to be well-fed and disobedient.
Are YOU living by every word of God? In particular – Jesus is THE WORD, Jesus’ teachings hold the word of life. We are to taught to keep His word – Matt. 28:18-19.
Hugh DeLong
