“Why Bread”
WHERE: Littleton, CO - You can access the path off of Garrison, across the street from Deer Creek Pool
WHEN: On a breezy day
BLESSED SPOT: The bench facing the pond
“Why Bread”
Isaiah 30:20
Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.
This doesn’t go together. Bread and water with adversity and affliction?
When we read the bible we float over some passages, land on a couple – chew on them for a bit (like bread – no pun intended). But there are words and phrases that are sprinkled throughout this amazing book that were chosen carefully by God to symbolize a much bigger picture and meaning if we take the time to really pay attention.
Bread is mentioned all over the bible.
It’s like ‘foreshadowing in movies’ - hints and glimpses, a look, a comment – that doesn’t all connect until the end. Sometimes it takes watching it a couple times to see all those very planned but discreet messages.
The last supper – he broke bread. It makes more sense to me to maybe have used a fish to represent his body. The fish was a living thing like Christ but was killed for purpose, and it seems like that would represent his body better than bread. But he chose bread.
There is one food that definitely unites most of the civilizations of the world: bread. It is a staple source of survival throughout history. Every culture has their version of bread. God knew this ‘symbol’ would transcend time, cultures, beliefs and even the modern world of today.
“Jesus said, I am the BREAD of life. Whoever
comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” At that point in history he could have said I am the “fish of life” and it would have had great meaning for them then…. Not nowJohn 6:35
“Which of you if your son asks for BREAD would give him a stone?” He could have said if your son asks for a ‘fatted calf’ that would have had great meaning then… not now.
Mathew 7:9
In biblical times, bread was essential. Bread was treated with great respect and many rules existed to preserve that reverence. Any crumbs of over the size of an olive were expected to be gathered, and never simply discarded.
Adversity and Affliction
We are living in an unprecedented time of worldwide adversity and affliction. COVID-19 has changed all our lives and altered our days like never before.
What if the adversity and affliction we face and our loved ones face, are actually saving our lives. It’s keeping us from a pit of selfishness. It wrenches us away from self-dependence to God-dependence. It’s keeping us from sliding into a hole of apathy and turns our eyes away from false control. Perhaps adversity sharpens our character for eternity, not the vapor of our life here on a spinning ball that’s not actually our forever home. It gives us a new filter of empathy to love those who despair …. Because we understand. I’ve been there. I am there.
God’s greatest command is this – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind.. and love your neighbor like yourself.
God wants us to love others as deeply as we love ourselves -without pain and adversity and affliction how can we?
We don’t appreciate light without darkness – we don’t appreciate warmth without the cold – we don’t appreciate food without hunger and we all can understand the incredible experience of gulping fresh, ice cold water when we are sooo thirsty.
Truth be told – we’d all rather live in blissful comfort – no bumpy roads or painful bruises.
A little reflection on the bench….
As I sat on this bench overlooking this small pond near my home, I could very distantly hear someone’s chimes. It was comforting – a quiet melody – not intrusive but kind and very welcome.
I have some chimes outside my kitchen window that I am forever attached to because they connect to my heart. My dad bought me these chimes years and years ago and my mother said he was very careful in his choice because he listened to many before he selected them to make sure they had just the right tone. I don’t know why, but that meant so very much to me and I love them! It’s beautiful music to me on a breezy summer afternoon. It slows my heart and brings me joy. It stops my racing thoughts midstream when I’m lost in stress or distress. I will never ever get rid of them and I will repair them till I’m old and gray(er). It’s a very reflective sound even when the wind is a bit wild and unruly.
The chimes remind me to stop for a minute - to pause, appreciate a quiet moment, halt my racing thoughts and breath.
For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. “Sir” they said, “Always give us this bread”. - Mathew 6:33-34
….They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts - Acts 2:46
His disciples answered and said, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” - Mathew 15:33
Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Luke 6:31
He will dwell on the heights, His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given to him, his water will be sure - Isaiah 33:16
Give us this day our daily bread - Mathew 6:11
This spot has been prayed for
I have prayed that God gives you a glimpse into the person you are ONLY because of adversity in your life
I have prayed that in this moment you tell God how you really feel about the adversity you face today - he’s a big God and he can take it. He just wants to hear from you.
Things you can do:
Write down on a small piece of paper one thing that ‘afflicts’ you right now and wrap it in a box, to remind you that this could be a gift from God that could save your life.
Next time you have a bite of bread, remember the incredible biblical significance it represents
Read the story of Elijah and the widow in I Kings 17
Leave a comment, a prayer or request below
**PS – stay tuned for my next blog as I peel back the layersof the second half of this verse to reveal a message that adds even more richness.
