The Bread of Life

Based on Genesis 46-48, Matthew 13:1-30

Sourdough starter is an interesting thing. It was used mostly in pioneer days to capture yeast from the air to eventually be able to bake bread. All you need is flour & water, let it sit out, and after 7 days, God does the rest (just like creation time!). It stands on its own after a while, mature & active, ready to use as yeast! It can last for YEARS in the fridge, pulling it out whenever you want to use it! Crazy huh!? I'm making one now and the method still works!

Even before pioneer times, bread has been a major source of sustenance. People came to Joseph during the famine to buy bread:

"And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families." Genesis 47:11‭-‬12.

Before the start of the journey, Joseph's father had a dream & prophesy from God:

"And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes." Genesis 46:3‭-‬4.

God's promise would be kept! We will see in further reading how the Israelites multiplied in the land, but also how the desperation for bread in the famine caused the people to be servants to Pharaoh. Money ran out. Goods to barter ran out. The people were all that were left, and again, they needed bread as sustenance to live! But one day, they'd come back to their homeland again, out of bondage! (Moses-coming soon!).

...And Jesus is coming soon, too! This great nation which was multiplied created a harvest for Jesus to offer Himself as Bread of Life! The harvest of people must receive the seed of the planted Word:

"And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;" Matthew 13:2‭-‬3.

This parable which Jesus was about to teach the multitudes was about the seed of The Word being planted & the ability to receive it! Are we thorny? Stony? Weeded? Or good soil? Check out that parable in Matthew 13!

We need to live by every Word from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4)! In Joseph, bread runs out! Eventually, all that was left was themselves. Same with Jesus! He provides for us in this life, but in the end, our souls are what's left! Are we feeding it true sustenance? God's Word, The Bread of life & rivers of living water which will not run dry?? Teach a man to fish instead of fishing for him! Hide The Word in your own heart so you are never empty & void of God! A baby can only go so long with someone feeding him. Soon, it's time to feed himself!

Whether it be feeding a sourdough starter, or starting to feed your soul, both require start-up & maintenance...but only one leads you closer to Jesus! Feed your soul the Word of God daily!

From the Words of Jesus: "I am that bread of life." John 6:48.