Christ in the Old Testament

Exodus 16:12

 “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.’” (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Exodus 16:1-36 and John 6:25-59

We have a lot of reading assigned today so I will keep the devotional short. I hope you can take the time to read all of the Bible verses today. Seeing Jesus in this section of the Old Testament scriptures is an easy one. Jesus is the manna and there’s no question about it because Jesus said so as we read in the gospel of John. Let’s see all the ways the manna symbolized Jesus.

Here’s a list of parallels I see between the manna and Jesus:

• Manna is bread from God (Ex 16:12) and Jesus said he is the bread of life (John 6:48).
• God provided temporary bread to keep the Israelites alive (Ex 16:8) and Jesus is the living bread that provides us eternal life (John 6:51).
• Both manna and Jesus came from heaven (Ex 16:4 and John 6:50).
• There was enough manna for every person (Ex 16:18) and Jesus came to save the entire world (John 3:17).
• There was enough manna to fill every person (Ex 16:8) and whoever comes to Jesus will never go hungry (John 6:35).
• The Israelites were in the Desert of Sin when God provided the manna (Ex 16:1) and we were in our sins when Jesus came for us (Rom 5:8).
• Manna was white and sweet (Ex 16:31) and Jesus was white as snow (Dan 7:9) representing he was without sin and his words are sweet (Psalm 119:103).
• Manna was provided so God would be glorified (Ex 16:7) and Jesus came to glorify God (John 17:1).

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35) and also, “This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever” (John 6:58). Jesus made it very clear that the manna in the desert pointed to him. The manna was a temporary bread that sustained physical life for a limited time. Jesus is the bread of life that sustains forever.

What does it mean to feed on Jesus? Very simply, we are to believe in him and accept him as our Lord and savior. But I think it’s also more than just that. Remember that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Feeding on Jesus also involves us reading his Word. We have to feed on it every day so that the Holy Spirit can work on our hearts and make us more like Jesus over time.

The Psalmist writes:

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word” (Psalm 119:9-16).

Today’s Prayer: Lord, help me feed on you by meditating on your precepts. Help me to seek you with all of my heart and rejoice in following your statutes.