How does Exodus 16:15 connect to Jesus as the "bread of life"? Manna—Bread Given from Heaven (Exodus 16:15) “When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, ‘What is it?’ because they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, ‘It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.’” Purpose of the Manna • Immediate, literal food for a hungry nation in the desert • Tangible proof of God’s faithful provision each dawn (vv. 4–5) • A test of obedience—gather daily, double on the sixth day, none on the seventh (vv. 16–30) • A sign preserved in the ark “for the generations to come” (vv. 32–34) Jesus Announces the True Bread (John 6:32–35, 48–51) “‘Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but My Father 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.’ … Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.’” Key Parallels between Manna and Christ • Heavenly Origin – Manna: “bread the LORD has given” (Exodus 16:15) – Jesus: “came down from heaven” (John 6:38) • Daily Dependence – Manna had to be gathered fresh each morning (Exodus 16:19–21) – Believers draw on Christ continually (John 15:4; Matthew 6:11) • Sustenance unto Life – Manna sustained physical life for 40 years (Nehemiah 9:20–21) – Jesus gives eternal life (John 6:51; 10:10) • Universally Available yet Personally Received – Every Israelite gathered manna, but each gathered “as much as he needed” (Exodus 16:18) – Salvation is offered to all; each must believe (John 1:12; 3:16) • Linked to the Word of God – Manna taught, “Man shall not live on bread alone” (Deuteronomy 8:3) – Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14) and feeds us through His Word (Matthew 4:4) • Sabbath Rest Fulfilled – Double portion before the Sabbath pointed to rest in God’s provision (Exodus 16:22–26) – In Christ we enter true rest from works (Hebrews 4:9–10) Lessons for Today • Trust Christ for today’s needs before worrying about tomorrow (Matthew 6:33–34) • Feed regularly on Scripture to enjoy the fullness He supplies (Colossians 3:16) • Expect His sufficiency in wilderness seasons—He specializes in deserts (Isaiah 43:19) • Remember that eternal life is received, not earned, just as manna was gathered, not manufactured Summary—One Continuous Story of Provision Exodus 16:15 introduces bread from heaven that met Israel’s physical hunger; John 6 reveals its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the living, life-giving Bread. What the wilderness manna previewed in shadow, Christ supplies in substance—perfect, eternal nourishment for every soul that comes to Him. |
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