Manna from Heaven

"It is written, 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'" Matthew 4:4.

Jesus knew the reality of hearing from God every day (John 5:19,30). He quoted from the Old Testament, where Moses spoke to the people of Israel:

"Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years...He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord" Deuteronomy 8:2-3.

In giving Israel manna in the wilderness the Lord was not just answering their physical need but teaching them and us (1 Cor.10:11) the importance of "eating" His word every day.

Manna in the Desert

Exodus 16

In the same way that the people of Israel gathered the manna, we are to live on the word of God. What does the manna in the wilderness teach us?

It had to be gathered daily (verse 4)
It had to be gathered personally (verse 16)
Each person had to gather as much as he needed (verse 16-17,21)
They could not live on yesterday's manna (verse 19-20)
They had to gather a double portion on the 6th day, enough for the Sabbath as well (verse 5)
The manna was only for the period they lived in the wilderness (verse 35)
An individual portion of manna was hidden in a golden jar inside the Ark of the Covenant for the generations to come (verse 33-34)

Jesus - Bread of Life

John 6:32-58

After the feeding of the 5000, the people asked the Lord to give them a miraculous sign, just like Moses did when he gave the people of Israel manna in the wilderness. Jesus answered that He Himself was "the true bread from heaven". In other words, what God was trying to teach Israel by sending manna was fulfilled in the person of Christ. Jesus is the "Word become flesh" (John 1:1-2,12; 1 John 1:1-2).

Heb.1:1-2

The Hidden Manna

"...These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword...He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna..." Revelation 2:12,17.

In the Lord Jesus, God's spiritual Manna from heaven (John 6:32-58), is hidden all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God. We have the privilege of eating of this "hidden manna" each day, as we spend time with the Lord, and through the Holy Spirit, search the deep things of God (1 Cor.2:7-10).

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" Colossians 2:2-3.

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