16 August Exodus 16

I am the Bread of Life

Exodus 16:4-5 (ESV): Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to 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 they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”

Just as the Israelites found manna, everyone who seeks Jesus will find Him as the Bread of Life. John 6:35 (NIV): Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

When the Israelites wandered in the desert, they had nothing to eat. Yet, in His great mercy, God provided manna. He didn’t give them an abundance; He gave them only what they needed to get through each day. In John 6, Jesus explained that He is the true and better manna, the provision for life. John 6:51 (NIV): I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:54 (ESV): Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Jesus goes further to say in Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV): Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 6:11 (ESV): Give us this day our daily bread. Bread demonstrates God’s love and care for His people. God knows what they need and provides for them, no matter their circumstances. When we are hungry, bread satisfies us. God provided bread for His people throughout their history, supplying for them in their need when they could not provide for themselves.

At the Last Supper, Jesus spoke to His disciples, and to us, saying, “This is My body...take and eat.” Jesus identifies a need that no amount of physical bread can satisfy. Bread cannot fill the emptiness of a human soul; it cannot fulfil our inner need for meaning, purpose, belonging, or understanding our origins and destiny.

John 6:47-51 (MSG): “I’m telling you the most solemn and sober truth now: Whoever believes in me has real life, eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna bread in the desert and died. But now here is Bread that truly comes down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever. I am the Bread, living Bread!, who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live, and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is myself, this flesh-and-blood self.”

This passage explores the biblical metaphor of Jesus as the "Bread of Life," drawing parallels between the manna provided to the Israelites in the desert and Jesus' role as spiritual sustenance for believers. These scriptures illustrate God's provision and care, emphasising that while physical bread can satisfy temporary hunger, only Jesus can fulfil humanity's deeper spiritual needs. By offering Himself, Jesus provides eternal life and meets the profound needs of the human soul.

As believers, we are taught to pray for our daily bread. Matthew 6:11(NIV) “Give us today our daily bread.” Daily bread helps us remember what is important and keeps our focus clear in this life. Daily we must put our trust in God and rely on his daily provision.

I conclude with Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”.