MANNA FROM HEAVEN

Manna from Heaven

God drove the first man out of the Garden after he had sided with the devil and had become unrighteous by eating the fruit God had forbidden him (Gen. 3:17;24). Many years later, ‘John came baptising in the wilderness’ (Mark 1:4) and also baptised the second Man to ‘fulfil all righteousness’ (Matt. 3:15). At His baptism with water Jesus was also baptised with the Holy Spirit who descended ‘upon Him like a dove’ (Mark 1:10). ‘Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him (Mark 1:12&13). So, we see that the new Adam picked up where the old Adam left off, i.e., in the wilderness.

              God set His people free from captivity to the Egyptian Pharaoh and led them into the wilderness. Pharaoh is representative of Satan, our old covenant master, who seeks to return to captivity those whom God sets free. At times people of God hear their former master calling and are tempted to return, and even attempt to justify their previous hardship of bondage. ‘Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us into the wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not”’ Exodus 16:2-4.

              God had Israel wander in the wilderness for forty years, till the generation of complainers died out. Jesus was in the wilderness, a day for each year Israel spent in the wilderness: ‘And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”’ Matthew 4:4. Jesus was hungry, so the subtle serpent mentions bread, trying to appeal to Jesus’ bodily craving for food, but though truly God, Jesus represents us as a man, the ‘last Adam.’ Thus, it was as a man that the Son of God manifested Himself, ‘that He might destroy the works of the devil’ (1 John 3:8). No changing stones into bread. No listening to the suggestions of Satan. He is the true Bread from Heaven. He is the Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

              As Pharaoh typifies Satan, so in the wilderness the bread, the manna from heaven, signifies Christ. It tasted ‘like wavers made with honey’ (Exo. 16:31). Notice at least four things regarding the manna: a) There was always enough for each person – ‘He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack’ (Exo. 16:18; 2 Cor. 8:15). b) It had to be eaten fresh each day – ‘But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank’ (Exo. 16:20). c) They gathered twice as much on the day before the Sabbath. – ‘So they laid it up till morning, and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it’ (Exo. 16:24). d) There was no manna given on the day of rest – ‘Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none’ (Exo. 16:27).

              Therefore a) Jesus’ sacrifice of His own flesh is sufficient for all who feed on Him through faith: ‘I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world’ John 6:51. b) We must not hide Christ in a closet lest we find only worms and a stink when we seek Him – ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ (Matt. 6:11). c) Like manna on the Sabbath, Jesus, our Manna from Heaven, was not eaten by worms nor saw decay while in the grave – ‘For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption’ and ‘He whom God raised up saw no corruption’  (Psalm 16:10; Acts 13:37). d) As no manna was found on the seventh day, so you will be too late if you think you can put off seeking Jesus until the Last Day – ‘Seek the LORD while He may be found’ (Isa. 55:6).

Dear reader, do you feel as if you are lost in the wilderness? Are your sins a burden to you? Does your conscience accuse you of not measuring up? Then let the devil hold you as his captive no longer! Just call on the name of the LORD! ‘For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved’ (Rom. 10:13). Yes, seek the Manna from Heaven! ‘And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus’ Philippians 4:19.