Bread of Heaven

"I know what I have given you. I do not know what you have received."
~ Antonio Porchia

Bread of Heaven
#powerofwords

Then they journeyed ... and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "... There is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people ...
~ Numbers 21:4-6 (NKJV)

Yet [the Lord] had commanded the clouds above,
And opened the doors of heaven,
Had rained down manna on them to eat,
And given them of the bread of heaven.
Men ate angels’ food;
He sent them food to the full.~ Psalm 78:23-25 (NKJV)

"My Father gives you the true bread from heaven... I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."
~ John 6:32-36 (NKJV)

The Lord gave His children the bread of Heaven—the food of angels. They called it worthless and complained that the Lord gave them "no food." How could they speak such words?

It began when "the soul of the people became discouraged." Discouragement led them along until they "spoke against God."

The Lord is defined by His compassion. Consider some passages which describe His response when we cry out to Him rather than speak against Him:

Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, When He heard their cry. (Psalms 106:44 NKJV)

And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel. (Judges 10:16 NKJV)

In all their affliction He was afflicted. (Isaiah 63:9 NKJV)

Look! We have a God Who suffers with His people.

The Lord gives followers of Christ bread far better than the food of angels, for our bread of Heaven is Jesus.

When we complain against God, are we not accusing Him of failing to feed us? Are we not calling bread of Heaven insufficient? When we instead cry out, does He not fill us?

Mark the difference between complaining and crying out. The former accuses, the latter appeals.

Lord of Heaven and Earth, You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. You supply all our need according to Your riches, not Your leftovers. When we are in distress, please open our eyes to Your goodness and loose our tongues to cry out for it.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from motion picture The Passion of the Christ, © 2004 Twentieth Century Fox