Exodus 16

³³ And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the LORD to be kept throughout your generations.” There was something about this manna that they were to always remember. It was first placed in the tent of meeting where Moses met with God. After the Ark of the Covenant was built, it was one of the three elements in the Ark. (Hebrews 9:4[notes1] )

Not only was it a reminder of God’s faithful, miraculous provision for the Children of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the desert, but it was also a sign of God as the Great Provider for all His creation. (Psalm 147:9[notes2] ) Most importantly, it looked forward to the great provision of God. Humanity has a spiritual hunger that can only be filled by God alone. We try to fill that spiritual emptiness with all kinds of things, food, entertainment, security, power, but nothing fills that great void. (Ephesians 4:19)[notes3]

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He fed the multitudes with a few small fish and five small loaves of bread. (John 6:11[notes4] ) It reminded the people of Moses and the manna in the wilderness. They asked for Him to feed them again as sign that He was indeed the Messiah. (John 6:30-31[notes5] )

³² Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:32-33 (ESV)  Moses didn’t give them manna. God did. Jesus point was this, God is the only One that can really meet our need. The manna was just a shadow of the real bread from heaven. The real bread from heaven is the Man who comes down from heaven and gives His life to the world.  Of course, Jesus was speaking of Himself.

He went on to make it clear. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. ⁵⁰ This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” John 6:48-51 (ESV) God has provided bread that gives not just physical life, but eternal life. It is the very body of Jesus who took our sins upon Himself and died in our place. (Isaiah 53:6[notes6] ) He is the bread of life, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. He is God’s solution for every empty heart. Taste and see that the Lord is good! Conclusion tomorrow -

4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

[notes2] Psalm 147:9 (ESV)

9 He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.

[notes3] Ephesians 4:19 (NIV)

19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

[notes4] John 6:11 (ESV)

11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.

[notes5] John 6:30-31 (ESV)

30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”

[notes6] Isaiah 53:6 (ESV)

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

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