What Is It?

Exodus 16:15 When the Israelites saw it, they said one to another, Manna [What is it?]. For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. 

Today is Day 16 for the Lords’ Countdown to Pentecost (or should I refer to it as a count up to Pentecost, Shavuot?)

As you may recall an omer was a unit of measuring grain. What should capture our attention is the last phrase of verse 15, This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. In keeping with the theme of counting the omer, or making the omer count – counting the grain of the harvest – it is the grain that has been harvested that is measured, or counted. It is the grain that is used to be ground into flour which in turn is transformed into bread. The grain is the bread which the Lord has provided. Question is, What are we doing with His grain? How is it being “ground” into our lives? How is it being transformed into His Bread? This last question, reveals another truth: Jesus is the Bread of Life, and according to 1 Corinthians 10:17 you and I are His Bread. Since both of these things are true, How is the grain of His Word being ground into your life in order that the Bread of Life might rise within you? 

Oswald Chambers has the following insight in regard to becoming His Bread:Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation.

One of the ways in which you can measure, or count the omer of the “grain” of His Word is by looking to see how your life is saying “thank you” in your obedience to Him, His Word and His Spirit. How do you “measure” His Grain? It’s “measured” in the lives of those around you. Over the years I have preached many a message, and have heard many an “amen!” of those who believe the Word of God without question, and without doubt. Yet, confronted with the stark realities of Matthew 28:19-20, and questioned about how many disciples they have made, who they have baptized, and the people they have taught – the room becomes strangely silent. Inevitably someone will pull me off to the side to excuse their disobedience. They will say, I don’t need to go to another country because there are people here in the United States who need salvation.” To which I readily agree – in part. But at this point the question has to be asked, Who are you winning to Jesus here in the United States? Who have you baptized? Who are you teaching to walk with Jesus? Others will say, “Well my gift isn’t evangelism, and I am more of a behind the scenes, introverted type of personality.” To which I would reply, Who are you giving a drink of water to? Who are you feeding and clothing? Who are you visiting in prison? Are you reaching out to your neighbor or better yet to your own family – with the Bread of Christ? In other words, Is the Bread of Life rising in you? Are you being broken bread and poured out wine? Is there proof that Christ has risen in you and you have been raised to new life – with Jesus?