Bread of Life

Hey everybody,

So some of you know this and some of you don't, but I work at a bible camp over the summers throughout college, and I love it so very much! The kids are such a blessing, to see their hearts growing for the Lord our God (those who already know AND those who have no idea who he is and what he's all about...it is such a beautiful thing!) Our theme this year is "Plug Into God's Promises" and it is such a fitting topic, because it is helping me grow while at the same time just rocking these kids' worlds - that God, who is so much bigger and stronger would really keep the promises he makes us because he loves us so very much! It's a good lesson for any of us, and an important thing for us to think about more than we probably actually do. Just think about that. God could end our lives in an instant, has all power, and still makes us promises and keeps every single one of them - those which we completely don't deserve, but his grace is just that strong.

So the topic we as a camp are focussing on this coming week is that of God's promises of provision for his people - mainly on how he is the all-satisfying "Bread of Life." If you think that this is too "low" for you or too "immature" of a lesson for you, then you really need to evaluate your relationship with God - or if there even is one that you treasure to begin with. Exodus 16 is a passage where Moses is leading the Israelites through 40 long years in the wilderness, and literally as God hears their grumbling and their cry he rains bread down from heaven. The Lord proved - as he always does - that he cares and would not let his people suffer beyond what they could bear. He promise to care after his children, his people, has stood the test of time. Let's meditate on this passage:

Exodus 16:1-3

The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month and after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."

Right off the bat...what are the Israelites doing? Complaining. God had just brought them out of slavery, bondage, humiliation, and was leading them to where he had promised to lead them. And they don't trust him, they say they would "Rather be back there than follow after and trust God!"

And what do we do, often times, as we go through hard times, even if it is immediately following something sooooo good that God did for us? Really, ask yourself. We're no different. Do you trust God whole-heartedly, when you're going through something hard, to get you through it? To keep his promises? DO WE.

Exodus 16:4-8

Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."

So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?" Moses also said, "You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the breat you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD."

Remember how big of a group of people this was? They had a significant crisis on their hands (not having food for the thousands and thousands of people stuck in the middle of the desert just wandering around) - Now think about your crisis - Do you think God can handle it? I think so.

Exodus 16:9-18

Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.' "

While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.

The LORD said to Moses, "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.' "

That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, think flakes of frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' "

The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.

Such an amazing story to show us how God really does provide, and always will for his people. He is passionate about his people, about those who follow him and seek him. Here is how Jesus referenced this story:

John 6:30-40

So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last night. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Meditate on that passage from the gospel of John. Just as God provided for the Israelites as they wandered for 40 years through Israel, he does today, through his Son Jesus Christ, who gives us bread that makes us never want to be satisfied by anything else! May we try harder and harder to understand this better and better. It is the will of God that everyone who believes Jesus will never be driven away, but will received eternal life and be taken up with God to spend eternity with him. Think of this other reference that Jesus made to "Bread" and what that was to signify. Just as God provided for the Israelites and meant those promises, he meant the one in sending his son to die for our sins and be risen from the dead. Praise glory and honor be to the LORD God! May we all examine our faith, think about this, and truly believe in Jesus the Son of God.