Water and Bread

 

The word “water” appears hundreds of times in the Bible. In last night’s group study, we looked at some of them and saw how its unique physical properties symbolize the wonder of God’s salvation. That study and the topic today use the ordinary stuff of life to bring out His goodness and His purposes, first water and now bread. The first major instance in the OT is:

And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3)

The OT story of God’s people in their wilderness journey from slavery in Egypt to the land He promised includes supplying manna for their food. It was an object lesson. Like water, bread (or food) is important to life, yet God is the supply. He wanted His people to realize their need for Him was like their need for food and drink. Without both, we will not survive. As Jesus said, He is the Bread of life. (John 6:35)

In other passages, water is compared to the life of God given to and flowing out from believers. This water of life springs from the Word of God, first declared and powerful, then to bring everlasting life to sinners:  

He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. (Psalm 147:15–19)

You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)

These verses declare that just as God uses natural elements like water and bread to accomplish His purposes, He also sends His Word to do the same. And His Word is powerful and productive:

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10–11)

Jesus quoted Deuteronomy to answer the temptation of Satan to turn stones into bread. Instead of performing a miracle to satisfy His own hunger, He said:

It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

As vital as bread (and water) are to our physical well-being, the Word of God supplies spiritual sustenance as it brings conviction of sin, sinners to repentance, encourages God’s people, reveals spiritual truth, gives us a weapon against Satan’s lies, and blesses us in many other ways. Feeding on it transforms our lives.

PRAY: Jesus, I can trust what You say, live in nourished confidence, and be motivated and enabled to do what You tell me. I can also tell others so they can feed on the truth and be spiritually nourished, growing in their faith. You said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34) indicating that nourishment comes from knowing and doing Your will and that means feasting on it, desiring it like a baby desires milk and like a hungry person desires food or a parched soul craves water. You know that I make and love bread, having some for almost every meal. May my hunger for Your Word be like that — a necessity and not a luxury or a snack but my very life.

PONDER: List the promises in John 14:1–14 and meditate on their significance as something greatly to be desired and greatly needed.