Thanksgiving is almost here.  Most homes will have some type of delicious bread, muffins or rolls.  Don’t’ you love the smell of bread baking in the oven? 

 Bread is called the Staff of Life for good reason. Most societies have some sort of bread, perhaps small fry breads, tortillas, flat breads.  There are wheat breads, rye breads, oat breads and corn bread! Even a brand called Wonder Bread!   I love that name.

When I made my last trip to the store, I was amazed at the long aisle filled with bread or bread products.  There were at least forty types of bread and more if you count donuts. 

The first bread mentioned in Scripture was the unleavened bread used in the first Passover.  (Exodus 12.)  The people were told to make their bread in haste without leaven, because they had to leave quickly before the bread would rise.  

While on their journey to the Land of Promise, God provided a type of bread for the Hebrews.  It was sweet to the taste, and it supplied them with the nourishment they needed for the journey.   Manna from heaven! 

Bread was so meaningful that on the table in the tabernacle were twelve loaves of bread which represented the twelve tribes of Israel. When David and his men were on run from King Saul, he entered the tabernacle and took that bread to his band of men. (1 Samuel 21) God forgave him.  Hunger and survival were more important than those twelve special loaves of bread.

Our Lord Himself said. “I am the bread of life” (John 6:48) or again, in His special prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) As in most Jewish writing, there are layers of meaning in the scriptures.  Bread can mean sustenance, assurance of life, and food for our souls. 

The book of Leviticus contains no fewer than fourteen references of bread.  The themes of bread in this context provides a means of developing and maintaining closeness to God; first by maintaining  purity, then by observing various  festivals and finally by rule of laws or commands. (Leviticus 21-24)

Bread can be associated with wealth or work ethic as found in Proverbs 12:11. “He who works his land will have enough bread.”

Leaven in bread is often associated with disobedience.  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:6 “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?

1 Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Just as today we hear the expression…….” Got any bread? Or…….” Can you lend me some dough? Bread plays into our everyday living!!

 We are supplied with physical bread for our bodies; spiritual bread for our souls; and we are to work for our daily bread.  God provides the increase.

                                                               Yes, Bread is Wonderful!