Exodus 25:23-30
~15 mins
💭 Consider this: How does recognising Jesus as the “Bread of Life” shape your understanding of your relationship with Him? How can you cultivate a deeper hunger for fellowship with God, to seek Him for who He is rather than only what He can provide?
TRANSCRIPT
In our previous message, we have considered the construction of the Tabernacle of God and the Ark of the Covenant. Next, God went on to command Moses to construct the furniture inside and outside the Tabernacle. Remember, God was the Designer and Architect of the Tabernacle, and He had a sovereign purpose in why the building was built in a certain way. The primary meaning was that the living God had come to dwell with His people. In so doing, God was fulfilling His covenant with Israel, demonstrating His unbreakable promise to love and save them—His commitment to be with them.
The construction of the building and the furniture has something to teach the people about God and His salvation in Jesus Christ. The ultimate Tabernacle was Jesus Christ Himself, as John 1:14 says: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” - which can also mean ‘tabernacled among us’ - ”(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." So, there are certain symbolic meanings in regard to the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, and the other furniture.
But the problem is how to interpret those symbols, because the Bible does not explain all the details, and we have to be careful not to misinterpret or say things that are not intended. Allow me to give you some examples: The ancient Jewish philosopher, Philo, believed that the structure of the Tabernacle represented the universe. The seven branches on the lampstand represented the seven planets. The four basic materials used to build the Tabernacle represented the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water. And the twelve stones on the priest’s breastplate represented the twelve signs of the zodiac, and so forth.
The Pope in Rome, Gregory the Great, said that the Ark of the Covenant symbolised the Holy Church, and the four rings of gold on the Ark were the four Gospels being extended to the four corners of the earth. Others said the Ark was a symbol of the incarnation of Christ, and they would explain it this way: Just as the Ark was made of wood and gold, the wood speaks of Christ’s humanity and the gold His divinity—two materials, yet one Ark; two natures, yet one person—the God-man.
You can see all these interpretations are just speculations. They are just the opinions of men. They are just reading meaning into it, and the different interpretations can be endless.
Now, there are certain principles in interpreting the symbols of the Tabernacle. Firstly, we have to understand that whatever symbolism, if there be any symbolism, they are God’s symbolism, because He was the Designer and Architect. And if God is the one who dictates what is the symbolism, then you and I have to use both the Old and New Testaments to explain what those items symbolise. In other words, we have to use Scripture to interpret Scripture. We have to study the context—whether the item has a symbolic function as revealed in the Bible, or if it is just a mere item to be used for a particular purpose. Not every item has a symbolic meaning.
For example, later on in Exodus 26, the wooden crossbars are mentioned. They were used to hold up the Tabernacle. Just because they were in the shape of a cross, does it mean they symbolise the Cross of Christ? No, because the Bible does not reveal such symbolic significance, and they are not connected in any specific way to the cross of Jesus Christ.
Another example is the wood and the gold, which we mentioned a moment ago. Are they the symbols of Christ’s humanity and divinity? No. Both the Old and New Testaments are silent—they do not provide any special meanings to the combination of wood and gold. In such situations, we have to apply the principle: If the plain sense makes sense, seek no other sense.
With this in mind, we will proceed to consider the furniture inside and outside the Tabernacle, beginning with the table of showbread. We want to learn the significance and the application of how it may be applied to our lives. The title of our message is Physical or Spiritual Bread: Which Is More Important?
I. The Significance Of The Table Of Shewbread
Let us first consider: the significance of the table of showbread. Allow me to read Exodus 25:23-28: "Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table. And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them."
There were several similarities between the way the table was built and the way the Ark was built. Both were made of shittim wood; both were covered with gold; both were not really big; and both had four rings of gold and poles for carrying. The only difference was that, unlike the Ark, the carrying poles for the table were removable.
Remember, the reason why the carrying poles on the Ark were permanently fixed and unremovable was simple: to touch the Ark was to die. The table for the showbread was not really big; it was 3 feet long, 1 ½ feet wide, and nearly 3 feet tall. Just like the Tabernacle, though it was a huge tent, it was not built on a grand scale. In other words, the true magnificence was not in how massive it was; it was in its message—it was in what it represented.
The table was encircled by a border to keep the things on the table from falling off. Verse 29: "And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them." This table was placed in the Holy Place, or the outer room, and it had various dishes, spoons, covers, which means pitchers, and bowls, which were used to hold the twelve loaves of sacred bread. Most likely, the pitchers and bowls were used for pouring out the drink offering. The drink offering was made on the altar in the courtyard outside, so the priest had to carry them out whenever they made an offering to God.
Verse 30: "And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway." In the Bible, this table has several different names. In Leviticus, it was called the pure table; in 2 Chronicles, it was called the table of gold; here, it was called the table of showbread. According to the Old Testament, this bread was baked the day before the Sabbath. It was made of fine wheat, unleavened, and baked in twelve loaves. Then, on the Sabbath, the priest would eat the old bread and replace it with new, fresh bread on the table.
What does all this mean? What is the spiritual significance? The table itself was functional, not symbolic. The Bible does not give any symbolic significance or special meaning to the table. It was the bread that was symbolic. The reason why they had the table in the first place was to provide a place for putting the bread. The bread was the important thing, not the table.
It does not mean that the bread was offered to God in the sense that God had to be fed—that idea is idolatrous, like the way the pagans even today would offer food to their idols. Feeding bread to God would make Him in our image, and it contradicts everything the Bible teaches about His divine character. The one living and true God does not need our help. The Apostle Paul said in Acts 17:25: God is "Neither…worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things." Our almighty God is eternally self-sufficient and self-existent. He is never hungry or thirsty. He does not depend on us to provide for Him. In fact, the opposite is true—we are totally and absolutely dependent on Him for everything we need. That is what the bread signifies.
Bread is basic food; it is what you and I need to survive. Therefore, the bread represents God’s provision—His providential care. Remember, Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ He was teaching us to ask God to meet our daily needs. So, the showbread on the table represented the same thing—it represented God’s provision.
There were 12 loaves of bread, one loaf for each of the 12 tribes of Israel. The phrase "upon the table shewbread before me alway" literally means ‘before God's face’. As soon as the 12 loaves of bread started to grow stale, it was replaced with fresh bread. This was a reminder of God's constant provision. The priest brought the bread right into God's holy presence, not to remind Him as if He might forget what the people needed, but rather it was to remind the people of God's constant awareness of their daily needs.
If they ever doubted God's provision, if they ever questioned, ‘Is God the one who has provided for them?’ all they needed to do was to look at the table of shewbread. Their needs were always right before God. God knew what they needed; their needs were always on His mind. God not only knew what they needed, He also provided for them. That was the reason why they could have fresh new bread every week.
The children of Israel learned that from past experiences. They saw how God brought manna from heaven and water from the rock without fail. So, the shewbread on the table was a constant reminder of God's constant provision.
The shewbread on the table also symbolised God's fellowship with His people. Back in chapter 24, Moses and the elders had fellowship with God around the table. The Bible tells us, "they saw God, and did eat and drink" with Him (Exodus 24:11). For the whole week, the bread was on the table in God's presence, symbolising His fellowship with His people.
Today, we do not think much about sharing a meal together, but in those days, sharing a meal was an act of fellowship and communion. It also meant that the host had a solemn responsibility to provide the meal, and he must also protect his guests while they enjoyed the meal together. This is a wonderful picture of God inviting Israel to share a meal with Him and enjoy His protection. Just as the children of Israel were invited to share a meal with God and enjoy His protection, today God invites you and me to have fellowship with Him around the table whenever we share the Lord's Supper. And one day, as true believers, we will all be invited to eat at the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb in heaven, which will last forever and ever. What a wonderful day that would be!
II. The Application Of The Table Of Shewbread
Dear friend, what lessons can we learn from the significance of the table of shewbread? This brings us to our second point: the application of the table of shewbread.
The first lesson we can learn is that God knows what we need, and He will provide for us. God always knows what we need; our needs are always right before His face. He never overlooks our concerns, or neglects to provide for us. Whether it is meeting our basic needs like food and water, or giving us wisdom to make a major decision, or sustaining us through a serious illness, or comforting us in a painful affliction, or providing friendship in times of loneliness, God never fails to provide what we truly need. He is always faithful.
Allow me to share with you a personal testimony. Many years ago, when my wife was pregnant with our first child, Timothy, I was in the ministry then, and at that time my salary was very small—just barely enough to put bread and butter on the table. How could we afford to pay for the delivery of our child? If God has called me into the ministry, if God has saved me, if God has blessed us with a child, if our needs are always right before His face, will He not provide for us? Most certainly He will, and He did. He provided an elder from a particular church who was a gynaecologist. He gave us free services all the way, not only for our first child but even for our second child. That is how faithful our God is. He knows what we need, and He will provide for us.
The second lesson is that God wants us to learn to trust Him through times of need. As we go through life, you and I have specific experiences of God providing for our different needs. God used those times of need to teach us that we can trust Him to provide. It happens again and again. We need a roof over our head, and He provides a house. We need to put food on the table, and He provides a job. We need to travel overseas, and He provides safe journey mercies. And the list goes on and on and on. Through those times of need, God is teaching us that we can trust Him to provide.
Take a moment and consider our brethren in Myanmar. The civil war in Myanmar started in 2021, and it has been more than three years. First, there was the COVID-19 pandemic, and then the civil war. The whole country was plunged into a deep financial crisis. But God provided Bethel BP Church to support the mission churches in Myanmar. Bethel is not the provider; she is only the instrument. God could have used anyone; He is the provider. When the church needed to move to a safer place because of all the fighting, God provided the place of worship in Dagon. He provided a church already built for His people to worship Him. When they needed to train the people, God provided the means to start a Bible college in the midst of the political upheaval. When the church in Ngalti needed a pastor, He raised up a faithful man, Jeffrey Mang, to pastor the church. Through all these experiences, God is teaching His people to trust Him through those times of need. So, as we look back, we can see the hand of God working in our lives and how He has graciously provided for us at every step of the way.
The third and final lesson we can learn is that God wants us to understand our deepest need. As God meets our daily needs, He wants us to understand that He is all we need. Our deepest need is to have fellowship with the living God. More than needing God to feed us, we need to feed on Him. Later on, when Moses looked back on all the things that God had done for His people, he said to the children of Israel, And God "humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live" (Deuteronomy 8:3).
Why did God allow His people to be hungry and then provide them with bread? Was it to teach His people to trust Him for their daily needs? Most certainly, but there was a deeper purpose. God wanted His people to feed on His Word, to place their total dependence upon Him, to trust Him, cling to His Word, and live by His truth. In the Gospel of John, chapter 6, there was a classic example of people who only sought God for physical needs and not spiritual needs. It was in the miracle of Christ feeding the 5,000. We are familiar with that miracle. After Jesus fed the 5,000, the next day everyone was looking for Him, but they missed the point because all they wanted was more bread. They only wanted Jesus for what He could do for them, not for who He was. They wanted His bread, not Him.
Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and He said to them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled." (John 6:26). What the people really needed was Jesus, not the bread He could provide, because only Jesus could forgive their sins, only Jesus could satisfy their souls, only Jesus could bring them into a relationship with God, and only Jesus could give them eternal life. Therefore, Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35). "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51).
Jesus was speaking about Himself. He was referring to the body He offered on the cross to save sinners. His message was very simple: All you really need is Me. I am the eternal source of life. I am the only one who can satisfy the hunger in your soul. And if you believe in Me, you will live forever.
Dear friend, just like the children of Israel, they could be looking only at the shewbread on the table, only at the provision, and forget the provider. You and I may fall into the sin of looking only at what God can do for us, looking at what God can provide for us. Therefore, we look to our houses, our finances, our careers, our families, our food, our clothes, our good health and strength, and we forget that what we really need is God. What we really need is our Lord Jesus Christ to be the centre of our lives. Yes, we need God to feed us. We need Him to provide for our daily needs. But more than God feeding us, we need to feed on Him.
Dear friend, have we learned to feed upon God? Are we drawing spiritual nourishment from His Word? Are we increasing in our appetites for the Bible, to spend time with God in prayer? Sometimes God allows us to lose our jobs, or to be afflicted with sicknesses, or to face a particular trial, not without rhyme or reason, but because He wants us to understand that our needs are not merely physical, but spiritual. Our needs are not simply temporal, but eternal.
What you and I really need is not only for God to do this or that for us. We need Him to be our God. May the Lord help us that all of us will always look to Him, not only as our provider, but as the centre and the source of our lives, and that we live our lives for His glory. Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, we thank Thee for enabling us to study this passage about the table of shewbread. Indeed, there are so many wonderful lessons we can learn. It reminds us of how gracious Thou art, how Thou knowest what we need, and Thou wilt provide for us. And Thou hast provided for us in times past, and Thou would want us to understand that we need to trust Thee. And we learn to trust Thee through those times of need.
As we look back upon our lives, all of us have gone through specific experiences of how Thou hast provided for our different needs. Thou art faithful. It happens again and again. We cried out to Thee, and Thou would provide for us. We cried out to Thee again, and Thou would provide for us. And Thou has reminded us of our greatest need. It is not physical need, it is spiritual need. It is not a temporal need, it is eternal need. We need Thee at every moment of our lives.
Thou art the eternal source of life. Our greatest need is to have a relationship with Thee, to have sweet fellowship with Thee. So, as we live our days on this earth, help us always to put Thee first. Thou must be the precedence of our lives, and we want to spend quality time with Thee, all the way until we see Thee face to face and spend eternity with Thee in heaven, forever and ever. May this be the pursuit and the desire of our lives. We pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.
THE BOOK OF EXODUSGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassExodus 1:1-7
From Prosperity to PersecutionFrom Prosperity to PersecutionExodus 1:8-14
God’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesGod’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesExodus 1:15-21
The Faith of JochebedThe Faith of JochebedExodus 1:22-2:10
Moses in EgyptMoses in EgyptExodus 2:11-15
Moses in the Desert of MidianMoses in the Desert of MidianExodus 2:16-25
Moses and the Burning BushMoses and the Burning BushExodus 3:1-9
Who Are You?Who Are You?Exodus 3:10-15
Who Am I?Who Am I?Exodus 3:10-15
God’s Message to Israel and EgyptGod’s Message to Israel and EgyptExodus 3:16-22
What If They Still Don’t Believe?What If They Still Don’t Believe?Exodus 4:1-9
Send Someone ElseSend Someone ElseExodus 4:10-17
Moses’ Return to EgyptMoses’ Return to EgyptExodus 4:18-20
When Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseWhen Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseExodus 5:10-21
When We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesWhen We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesExodus 5:22-6:5
Having to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceHaving to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceExodus 6:6-12
Faithful or UnfaithfulFaithful or UnfaithfulExodus 6:13-27
What God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceWhat God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceExodus 6:28-7:7
The First Plague - The River of BloodThe First Plague - The River of BloodExodus 7:14-25
The Second Plague - The FrogsThe Second Plague - The FrogsExodus 8:1-15
The Third PlagueThe Third PlagueExodus 8:16-19
The Fourth PlagueThe Fourth PlagueExodus 8:20-32
The Fifth PlagueThe Fifth PlagueExodus 9:1-7
The Sixth PlagueThe Sixth PlagueExodus 9:8-12
The Seventh PlagueThe Seventh PlagueExodus 9:13-35
The Eighth PlagueThe Eighth PlagueExodus 10:1-20
The Tenth PlagueThe Tenth PlagueExodus 11:1-10
The First PassoverThe First PassoverExodus 12:1-13
The Feast of the Unleavened BreadThe Feast of the Unleavened BreadExodus 12:14-28
Departure From EgyptDeparture From EgyptExodus 12:29-42
This Do In Remembrance of MeThis Do In Remembrance of MeExodus 12:43-51; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Exodus 12:48-49, Colossians 2:11-12
Redemption and ConsecrationRedemption and ConsecrationExodus 13:1-2, 11-16
Precious Lord, Take My HandPrecious Lord, Take My HandExodus 13:17-22
Between the Desert and the Red SeaBetween the Desert and the Red SeaExodus 14:1-14
Crossing the Red SeaCrossing the Red SeaExodus 14:15-31
The Song of PraiseThe Song of PraiseExodus 15:1-21
Will You Obey Or Not?Will You Obey Or Not?Exodus 15:22-27
The Danger of a Complaining SpiritThe Danger of a Complaining SpiritExodus 16:1-3
God’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsGod’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsExodus 16:1-10
The Test of FaithThe Test of FaithExodus 16:11-20
Lessons About the SabbathLessons About the SabbathExodus 16:21-36
Do Not Test GodDo Not Test GodExodus 17:1-17
Lift Up Your HandsLift Up Your HandsExodus 17:8-16
The Blessedness of ReunionThe Blessedness of ReunionExodus 18:1-12
Why Do We Have Leaders?Why Do We Have Leaders?Exodus 18:13-27
I Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsI Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsExodus 19:1-6
Approach God Fearlessly or FearfullyApproach God Fearlessly or FearfullyExodus 19:7-15
God Reached Out And SpokeGod Reached Out And SpokeExodus 19:16-25
Thou Shalt Have No Other GodsThou Shalt Have No Other GodsExodus 20:1-3
Thou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesThou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesExodus 20:4-6
Thou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameThou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameExodus 20:7
Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayThou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayExodus 20:8-11
Honour Thy Father And Thy MotherHonour Thy Father And Thy MotherExodus 20:12
Thou Shalt Not KillThou Shalt Not KillExodus 20:13
Thou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryThou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryExodus 20:14
Thou Shalt Not StealThou Shalt Not StealExodus 20:15
Thou Shalt Not LieThou Shalt Not LieExodus 20:16
Thou Shalt Not CovetThou Shalt Not CovetExodus 20:17
The Response To The Ten CommandmentsThe Response To The Ten CommandmentsExodus 20:18-21
How God Wants Us To Worship HimHow God Wants Us To Worship HimExodus 20:22-26
Why Would God Allow Slavery?Why Would God Allow Slavery?Exodus 21:1-11
The Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeExodus 21:12-17
The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeExodus 21:18-36
The Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsThe Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsExodus 22:1-15
The Character Of GodThe Character Of GodExodus 22:16-20
Reaching Out To The Down-And-OutReaching Out To The Down-And-OutExodus 22:21-24
The Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodThe Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodExodus 22:25-31
Truth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthTruth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthExodus 23:1-9
Remember Who God IsRemember Who God IsExodus 23:10-19
What Must We Do To Have VictoryWhat Must We Do To Have VictoryExodus 23:20-33
How We Ought To Worship GodHow We Ought To Worship GodExodus 24:1-4, 7
On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?Exodus 24:4-8
Responding To God’s InvitationResponding To God’s InvitationExodus 24:9-18
The Right Attitude Of GivingThe Right Attitude Of GivingExodus 25:1-8
There I Will Meet YouThere I Will Meet YouExodus 25:9-22
Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Exodus 25:23-30
Let Your Light So Shine Before MenLet Your Light So Shine Before MenExodus 25:31-40
The Veil That SeparatesThe Veil That SeparatesExodus 26:1-37
If Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceIf Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceExodus 33:12-23
