Exodus 16:4-104Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. 5And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. 6And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: 7And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord; for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? 8And Moses said, This shall be, when the Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord. 9And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the Lord: for he hath heard your murmurings. 10And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. (Exodus 16:4‑10)
“HEN SAID the LORD unto I Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or no.” The people in their hunger could think of nothing better than what they had eaten in Egypt — the leeks, the cucumbers, the onions and the garlic — all foods of the ground in Egypt; but now God provided “bread from heaven.” What a contrast this was! God delights to display His bright character of grace and mercy, and He is able “to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”
The bread from heaven brought a new responsibility for through it God was to prove whether they would walk in His law or not. This new food was of a different character altogether to what they had known. It was nourishment provided by God Himself, for His redeemed people while in the wilderness. The manna speaks to us of Christ as the Bread of God that came down from heaven (John 6:3333For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. (John 6:33)). Only the children of Israel, who were a redeemed people, could eat of the manna. So now, only true children of God can feed upon Christ in His life down here. That is why the Lord Jesus said, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.” John 6:5353Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (John 6:53). We could never be associated with Christ except through His death.
We hear a great deal today about the life and teachings of Christ from unsaved men. The first thing a sinner needs to learn is that he is lost in his sins, and that the Lord Jesus had to die to save him. This is what it means by eating His flesh drinking His blood. It is the death of Christ appropriated to one’s personal need. Then when we had learned that the death of Christ had met all of God’s holy claims against sin, when we see that we are in new standing “in Christ” before God, then we can enjoy thoughts Christ in His perfect life as Man here below.
To enjoy this new Bread which came from God Himself, required a new appetite. And it was to be the proof of these people, whether they would accept and thrive on it. So now, Christ is the wilderness food for His people, and we may well search out our own hearts as to whether our satisfaction lies in so blest a portion as Himself, or whether we are turning back to the things of this judged world for satisfaction.
“And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for He hath heard your murmurings. And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.”
The people in their unbelief had turned back to Egypt, but as they gathered to hear this message they saw the glory of the Lord appear in the cloud “toward the wilderness.” The path in which the Lord was leading them on to Canaan’s rest lay through the wilderness. He would journey with them. What a grand object for their eyes to rest upon all along the way — the glory of the Lord. How much there was then in this to encourage their failing hearts and remove the fear and uncertainties of the unproved way that stretched before them. The pathway to our heavenly rest lies through this wilderness world.
ML-09/07/1969