God’s Bread

Time: March 1406 BC, 40 years after the Exodus.
Setting: The nation of Israel is encamped on the Plains of Moab, awaiting the order to enter the Promised Land.
Characters: Priest Elnathan, 10-year-old Jerusha, and her two parents, Baruch and Deborah.
Previous Episodes: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

Jerusha’s enthusiasm for the Tabernacle had spread among her friends. Priest Elnathan’s Tabernacle class had now grown to seven students. But today Priest Elnathan had some bad news for his students. The children had been enjoying the visual aids he had been using recently to teach them. They had lingered beside the brass altar and then the brass bath as he had explained the Messiah-centered meaning of these pieces of furniture. Today the children were looking forward to seeing what was in the Holy Place, the tented room in the middle of the Tabernacle. But, as he reached the curtained entrance, Elnathan turned around and said, “I’m sorry, children, but only the priests can go into the Holy Place. I can tell you what is in it, but I can’t take you inside.”

Disappointment spread across every face. But Elnathan knew from previous classes that this disappointment could be turned to his advantage. If there was one way to arouse children’s curiosity about something, it was to tell them they could not see it! So, as the children tried to squint between the curtains, Elnathan began to describe what was on the other side.

“My beloved students,” Elnathan began, “Although the outside of the tent looks very plain, the inside is very different. There, on the roof and walls, hang blue, purple, and scarlet curtains covered with beautifully embroidered, golden cherubim. There is no sound in this sacred place; silence reigns. A large, golden lamp casts its yellow light on a golden altar and a golden table. The table is 3 feet long, 18 inches broad, and 2 feet 3 inches high. Around the edge of the table are two handbreadth-high golden rims — they look like crowns and stop things from falling off the table. And what is on the table, children? Does anyone know?”

Just at that point, a group of twelve priests arrived. They were each carrying a large loaf of unleavened bread. Others carried bowls of wine.

One of the older children shot up his hand and asked, “Mr. Elnathan, do these loaves go on the table?” “That’s right, Benjamin,” Elnathan smiled. “On the table are twelve large loaves of unleavened bread, set out in two rows. Every Sabbath the priests put fresh bread on the table. But what does all this mean, children?” The children’s eyes widened as the priests passed through the curtain and into the Holy Place with their bread and bowls. They peered in, trying to catch a glimpse of this mysterious place. Elnathan had timed the lesson perfectly. He now had the children captivated with rapt attention. “My dear students, let me tell you about the ‘Four Fs.’”

For God
“First of all, this bread is for God. It is an offering from our nation to God.[i] Although this is only a small part of our crops and produce, we offer it as a sample of all we have, and so acknowledge that all we have is for God. Why twelve loaves? Well, they represent everyone in the twelve tribes. So, when the priests put the twelve loaves on the golden table and sprinkle them with the sweet rising fragrance of frankincense, we are acknowledging that we are all for God. We exist for Him and live to Him.

“Now, as you know, this bread has a special name. It is called ‘Shewbread,’ which means ‘the bread of presence.’ And, just as the shewbread is continually on show in His presence, so our twelve tribes are reminded that we too and we all are continually before Him. This theme of remembering is underlined by the frankincense, which is on the bread for ‘a memorial.’[ii] Its sweet fragrance rises up to heaven and reminds us that we are constantly in the heavenly presence of God.

“Some of you look a bit worried about always being in God’s presence. Maybe you should be! However, if you are living a life for God, the ‘bread of presence’ should actually bring you much comfort. Remember what is around the table? A protective crown of gold rims the table and makes sure that nothing falls off. My dear believing children, no man shall be able to pluck you out of the Lord’s hand.[iii] His presence is your protection.

“And, don’t forget, the Tabernacle and its furniture ultimately pictures the Messiah. He will be the Bread of Presence. When He comes, He will live with God and for God perfectly. I sometimes wonder if the fine flour we use to bake this bread tells us something about the Messiah. We sift it eleven times to make sure it is free from grit and imperfection. Could that tell us something about the Savior? And what about the bread being baked in a hot oven — does that contain any lessons? I don’t have all the answers, children. A day will come when these things will become clearer. May our gracious God hasten the day!”

From God
“But we must hurry on. Your parents will soon be here to pick you up. The second ‘F’ is from God. People in the nations beside us regularly bring produce to supply their kings’ tables. This is their way of acknowledging that their piece of land and its resulting produce is the king’s gift to them, as is the security and peace of the land.

“Likewise, by offering the shewbread to God, we are acknowledging that all our bread is from our heavenly King. We are returning to God what He has given us. We are saying that all our support and sustenance is from Him. The twelve loaves always in God’s presence signify that all twelve tribes are always dependent on Him.

“But, there is a spiritual lesson here, too, my little ones. Just as God provides for Israel’s physical needs, so He provides for the believer’s spiritual needs. And God’s ultimate provision for His people’s spiritual nourishment is the Messiah who will be ‘of and from God.’ Let us look in faith towards the bread of God who will come down from heaven, and give life to the world.[iv]

Fellowship with God
“Thirdly, the shewbread represents fellowship with God. As you know, our family tables are places of fellowship, places where our families gather to talk and share. But here we have a golden table, a symbol of royal fellowship. And it’s fitting, isn’t it, that in God’s royal palace and dwelling place there should be a royal table?

“Some of you are wondering why the priests are taking so long in there, aren’t you? Do you know what is keeping them? They are eating the old shewbread before replacing it with the new bread. This again underlines the link between fellowship and the shewbread. I love it when my name is on the roster to change the shewbread. My best times of spiritual fellowship have been in the Holy Place, eating the sacred bread of presence, drinking the wine from the bowls, and discussing the meaning of the bread, the wine, and the table with some of the older priests. I can’t wait until it’s my turn again!

“Are some of you thinking that it’s a bit unfair that only the priests are allowed this privilege? Well, you’ll be glad to know that the older priests believe that when the Messiah comes, all of God’s people will be priests, and they will all eat of the bread of God. What a table of love and fellowship that will be!”[v]

Future with God
“Finally, the shewbread speaks of the future with God. God’s gracious supply of physical and spiritual nourishment on earth encourages the believer to look forward to heaven, when he will eat and drink at Messiah’s table in His heavenly Temple. Is this not what we sing of in the Psalms, ‘In your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore’?[vi]

“I see your parents at the door of the Tabernacle. But, before you run off, take down the following words and memorize them for next week.

‘How precious is your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of your house, And you give them drink from the river of your pleasures. For with you is the fountain of life; In your light we see light..’[vii]

“And…there is a prize for anyone who can tell me how many pieces of Tabernacle furniture are hinted at in these words!

“Let us conclude with prayer: Our heavenly Provider, we thank you for all your provision for our physical and spiritual needs. We thank you for the shewbread which reminds us of the source of all our bread on earth, and which makes us long for the bread of God to come down from heaven. Please give us deeper and wider and longer fellowship with you on earth. And increase our desires for eternal fellowship with you in heaven. Look on the face of your Anointed and hear our prayers. Amen.”

Tune in next week for the remaining four episodes of God’s Home.