God's Faithfulness (Ex. 16:13-15)

5/19/2008 7:33 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time           Focus:  God’s faithfulness

Bible Reading & Meditation               Reference:  Exodus 16:13-15

            Message of the verses:  “13 ¶ so it came about at evening that the quails came up and covered the camp, and 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.”

            Even though the children of Israel were grumbling against Moses and Aaron, although they were really grumbling against God, God was faithful in caring for them by giving them meat in the evening and bread in the morning.  The bread from heaven called Manna was given to them from this time until the next generation went into the Promised Land where they had food there from the plants that were grown.  In the Hebrew Manna means “what is it,” for that is what they said when they first saw it.

            Manna is a type of Jesus Christ as seen in the NT; for a type of Christ has to be identified in the NT of it is not a true type.  There are other things in the OT that point to Christ, but are not identified in the NT as a type of Christ and are sometimes called “inferred types.” 

            In the Gospel of John chapter six and verses twenty-two through fifty-nine Jesus spoke about Him being the “True bead that came down from heaven.”  Jesus had fed the 5000 with five barely loaves and two fish the day before and now He was giving a message to a crowd in the synagogue in Capernaum about Him being “the true bread.”  There two applications to this message that I want to point out:  The first is that an unbeliever has to receive Jesus Christ internally in a spiritual way like one received food in a physical way, and this will result in salvation for whoever does this.  “The manna only sustained their physical life in the wilderness, but God’s Son gives eternal life to the whole world.  Just as the Jews had to stoop and pick up the manna, and then eat it, so sinners must humble themselves and received Jesus Christ within.  The Jews ate the manna and eventually died, but whoever receives Jesus Christ will live forever.”

            The second application of manna is the feeding on the Word of God for spiritual nourishment each day.  Just as one needs physical food to live, grow, and sustain life, so a believer needs spiritual food to do grow spiritually.  There are a number of passages that I am about to quote that bring out this point.  “12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.  14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”  (Heb. 5:12-14)  “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”  (1 Peter 2:2)  “But He answered and said, "It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”  (Matthew 4:4)  “16 Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.”  (Jer. 15:16)  “12 “I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”  (Job 23:12)

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The application for this section of Scripture for me is to continue to feed on the Word of God, something that by God’s grace I have a great desire to do.  God’s Word in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 speaks of it this way:  “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord to lead me as Proverbs 3:5-6 speaks of, continue to yoke up with the Lord as Matthew 11:28-20 speak of, continue to learn contentment as, Phil. 4:11 speak of, and continue to trust the Lord to handle my temptations as 1 Cor. 10:13 speaks of.

Memory verses for the week:                      Matthew 11:28-30

28.    Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

29.    Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30.    For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

5/19/2008 8:48 AM