God’s people need heavenly bread in order to survive spiritually. Jesus said that we will not live by bread alone, but by the word of God (Matt. 4:4). When God’s people lack spiritual bread, they become desperate for heavenly food. These times of desperation are times that God comes through and gives them supernatural provision.
Jesus once told a parable about a man who was traveling (Luke 11:5-8). The traveller came to his friend’s house late at night and he was hungry. His friend had no bread in his house. His host became desperate because he had no bread, so he went to a neighbor’s house at midnight. After knocking a few times, the neighbor got out of bed and gave him three loaves of bread. The man went back home and fed his hungry friend.
Spiritual supply often comes to the desperate. We have nothing from ourselves that can benefit others spiritually, and we need to get something from God. We need supernatural bread. Times of desperation can be dark. They may be like midnight, when all hope seems lost. At times like this we need to go to God with our desperation. He has the supply, and he will give us all the bread we need.
Bethlehem
Bethlehem was a small town in Judah. It was an insignificant place to most people (Micah 5:2). But the provision of God often comes from places that appear small or insignificant. The name Bethlehem means “house of bread.” Bethlehem represents the place we receive spiritual supply of bread from God.
As we study Bethlehem in the Bible, we can learn about how the bread of God comes to his people.
Rachel Dies, Benjamin is Born
The first mention of Bethlehem in the Bible is in Genesis. Rachel was pregnant with Benjamin, and she and her family were traveling to Ephratah (which means fruitful) (Genesis 35:15-19). On their journey, the family stopped at Bethlehem. Rachel went into labor. Her labor was hard, and the life of both mother and son appeared to be in jeopardy. But Rachel received enough strength to bring forth her son. During the labor Rachel died. She was buried in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem was the place where Benjamin was born – the precious son of the right hand! There was a provision there. But Bethlehem was also a place of struggle and desperation. In order to get into the place of fruitfulness, there had to be death. To get the supernatural provision of God our flesh must be crucified and we must come to the end of ourselves. When we do this, we will see a breakthrough.
Ruth and Boaz
Naomi was originally from Bethlehem. When they were young, Naomi and her husband had left Bethlehem and went to Moab. In Moab Naomi’s husband and two sons died. She became desperate because of a famine. She left Moab and came back to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth to find some food.
When they came back to Bethlehem, their desperate cries to God were heard. Bethlehem was the “house of bread” for Naomi and Ruth. God blessed them there. First they got some grain, and then Ruth found a husband, Boaz. Boaz and Ruth then had a son named Obed. Obed became the grandfather of David.
David
Decades later, David was born in Bethlehem. David was like the runt of the family. He was ignored by people. But God had chosen him to rule over his people and become a symbolic representation of Christ. When Samuel came to Bethlehem to find David, his father showed him all his older and stronger sons. But God had chosen the youngest, David, to become king.
The provision of God often seems small. It is something that most people overlook. But it is God’s provision to deliver his people. It is God’s bread. And it comes to the desperate and hungry.
Jesus
Centuries later, Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem to be counted in a census. When they reached Bethlehem, they could not stay at the inn because it was full. So they stayed in a barn. There Mary went into labor and birthed Jesus. She put him in a manger, which is an animal feeding trough. The manger represented that Jesus is the true spiritual bread that gives life to the world.
The bread of God often comes in small packages. It comes in the midst of dire circumstances. It comes to desperate people. It often comes in ways that the world does not recognize. But it comes to those who are in tune with God. When we are at the end of ourselves, the bread of God will come through to nourish us.
At the end of the age, there will be people who are desperate for God. In the midst of the trials and troubles of the dark world, they will cry out to God. They won’t be satisfied with the empty vessels of Babylon. They will want something more. God will hear their prayers, and they will receive supernatural provision that will give them strength to overcome. They will be like Mary at Bethlehem, who through the midst of terrible difficulty, saw the glory and provision of God.
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