Manna: A Type of Christ
In Exodus Chapter 16 we find one of the most beautiful types of Christ pictured in the Word of God. The "manna" which came down from heaven beautifully illustrates Jesus Christ who is the "Bread of Life." Exodus 16 and John 6 are companion chapters which portray this wonderful truth.
A "type" is a picture, illustration, or shadow which conveys a spiritual truth which will be revealed in the future. There are many such types in the Old Testament scriptures. Jesus Christ Himself confirmed this when He appeared on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24. After questioning them concerning current events, He stated, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). Therefore, we conclude that all of the Old Testament is concerning primarily with giving shadows or types of Jesus Christ the Son of God. The "manna" from heaven in Exodus 16 reveals many things concerning Jesus Christ. Let us examine them in three particular categories: The Manna Reveals Many Attributes of Christ; The Manna Illustrates the Incarnation of Christ; The Manna Explains What One Must Do with Christ.
The "Manna reveals many of the attributes of Christ." An attribute is a characteristic of Christ that is immutable, in that it never changes. There are many attributes of Christ, each also possessed by God the Father and the God the Holy Spirit. The name "manna" literally means "What is it?" (Exodus 16:15). The Israelites could not explain these tiny morsels of heavenly manna which fell from the sky daily. They could not conceive how manna could appear in such a way. The same is true concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,….." (1 Timothy 3:16). There are many ways in which this "manna" is a type of the many attributes of Christ.
The manna was "small" (Ex. 16:14) which speaks of the "humility" of the Lord. Philippians 2:7-8 reveals that Jesus "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in the fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." When the Lord Jesus Christ was born, He was born in a stable. His stable birth also was a type of His humility depicted by the manna. He was not born in a wonderful palace or the finest mansions of the day. Christ’s entire earthly ministry is portrayed as one of humility and servitude.
The manna was "round" (Ex. 16:14) which speaks of His "eternality". Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God (John 8:53-59). In the beginning it was Christ who was with the Father during creation. It is Christ who is the Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 1:8; 17-18). Truly Christ is without beginning and without ending as depicted in the shape of the manna.
The manna was "white" (Ex. 16:31) which speaks of the "purity" of Christ. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin having no earthly father. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and was without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:19). Jesus Christ was the only One who could atone for our sins because He alone is without sin.
The manna was "sweet" (Ex. 16:31) which speaks of His "character". The Psalmist wrote, "O, taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalms 34:7). Those who come to Christ in faith believing find Him to be the best wine of all. There is none that compare to the sweetness of Christ. The world’s best pales in comparison to the satisfaction that is readily available in Christ. However, for those that do not love the Lord, He is not found sweet but rather bitter. Those that traveled with the Israelites, the "mixed multitude" desired the leeks, onions, and garlic of Egypt. They were not satisfied with the bread from heaven regardless how they cooked it. There is sweetness for all who come to Christ realizing that He alone is their only means of salvation. There is pleasure in sin, but it lasts only for a season. Christ said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
The manna was not only sweet, but it was substantial. The nation of Israel found the manna enough to sustain them for the entire thirty-eight years of wilderness wanderings. The same is true of Jesus Christ. He is all we need to sustain us in our Christian walk. He is the Bread of Life that has been sent down from heaven, and like the passover lamb which was slain, roasted, and eaten, Christ Jesus sustains us completely.
The "Manna illustrates the incarnation of Christ" as well as reveal many of His attributes. Manna was "sent from heaven" and landed "upon the dew". This was not something that was conjured up by mankind, nor was it something that could even be explained by science. The manna that fell down from heaven was a daily miracle that revealed God Himself. The same is true of the "incarnation of Jesus Christ." Christ was born of a virgin without a human father. This miracle is a great mystery which cannot be explained by man (1 Timothy 3:16). The miracle occurred "at night" which is the same time of the day in which Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The "Light of the World" was born at night! The "Bread of Life" was born in Bethlehem which means "House of Bread." It is no coincidence that these things happened in this manner. All of Scripture is concerned with Christ, "the wheel in the middle of a wheel."
The manna was provided for the Israelites "in the wilderness". Certainly this world in which Jesus was born is no paradise. This world is far from being what God desired it to be during creation. To the lost this world may seem like a wonderful place to live, but to those who have been born-again and possess spiritual discernment of the Scriptures, we know that there is a Promised Land far greater than this world. We are just passing through this wilderness called earth looking like Abraham, "for city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10).
The manna was given to a rebellious and sinful people. The nation of Israel constantly complained and murmured. Is not this true of Christ Jesus? Did not Paul write, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…" (1 Timothy 1:15). It is a certainty that the world was rebellious and wicked when Christ was born. Herod killed thousands of young babies because he feared the birth of the Messiah. Pharisees and scribes heaped burdensome laws upon the nation of Israel in which they themselves did not obey. Men and women worshipped idols, committed sexual immorality, and cared only for themselves. Of course, this not only sounded like the days in which Christ was born, but it also resembles our present society a great deal. Christ, like the manna from heaven, was sent to those who did not deserve it, yet in love, grace, and mercy it was sent by God.
The manna illustrates how accessible Christ is to those who would come to Him. Jesus’ birth in a stable reveals not only that He was the Lamb of God, not only the humility in which He came to dwell among men, but also it reveals His accessibility to mankind. The manna from heaven came to where the nation of Israel camped. It was easily attainable, not because of what they did, but because of the grace of God. God sent the manna each day, and all the Israelites had to do was receive it. They did not have to climb a mountain, swim the widest sea, nor did they have to attain some degree of social status. All the Jews had to do was step outside their tents and enjoy the blessings of God.
The same is true of the Lord Jesus Christ even today. Paul instructed the Romans in Romans 10:6-10, But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth uynto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
The manna also "explains what one must do with Christ" in order to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. First, one must "realize their need." The physical hunger of the Israelites is a picture of the "spiritual hunger" one must have in order to come to the Lord. No one will ever come to Christ for salvation unless they realize their need of a Savior. Just as the Prodigal Son said, "I perish with hunger!" one must also sense the hunger of the spirit. Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiates to illustrate how he hunger for something to fill the void, the emptiness of his life. After a lifetime of searching for fulfillment and satisfaction in the world, he concluded that the only satisfaction was in the Lord.
Just as the Jews had to "stoop" to pick up the manna from off of the ground where it lay, so must we humble ourselves (stoop) to access the Lord Jesus Christ. What a picture of humility. Without one being of a "broken heart and contrite spirit" there is no repentence. Luke 13:3; 5 clearly state, "…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." The problem with mankind can be summarized in one word, "pride." Pride is the main reason people will not accept the Lord Jesus Christ. Pride is that stubborn characteristic of sin that hardens the heart and prevents one from admitting that they are sinners, lost and undone. Pride has sent many souls into hell, and pride will cause you to go also if you do not receive Christ before it is too late.
The manna from heaven also reveals what one must do with Christ in that it is a personal decision. No one could gather manna for others. Each one of the Israelites had to go outside and gather their own. The same is true of salvation. Parents can not receive Christ for their children, nor can children receive Christ as Savior for their parents. Husbands and wives cannot be saved for their spouses, nor can any receive Christ for their friends. Salvation is obtained individually. Romans 14:12 clearly states, "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." The nation of Israel had to "eat the manna themselves" in order to obtain strength, and so it is with the Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. In John 6:51-58, Jesus Christ Himself clearly taught the typology of this heavenly manna. He said, "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). In John 6:53-58 Jesus also added, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever."
The manna also teaches in Exodus 16:21 that we must "do it early." It was in the morning that the Jews were told to gather the manna. If they procrastinated, they would lose the opportunity to gather that which would satisfy their hunger. The same is so very true of the Lord Jesus Christ. No one has the promise of another day, nor another heart beat. One must realize the urgency of the moment! In 2 Corinthians 6:2 Paul exhorted those in audience to come to Christ for salvation immediately, "….behold, now is the accepted tim; behold, now is the day of salvation." We also see that if one did not pick up the manna, he or she literally walked on it. The same could be said of those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 10:29 we read, "Of how much sorer punishement, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"
Once a person receives Christ for salvation there should be a continuing of feasting on Him. Salvation is just the beginning of a wonderful life abundant and blessed. The manna from heaven was only the type, the figure, the shadow of things to come, however. As the writer of Hebrews said of the law, "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things…." (Hebrews 10:1), the type of manna is not as perfect as Bread of Life. The manna was only able to sustain physical life, not spiritual. Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, is able to sustain us eternally.
It is also important to note that the manna from heaven was for the Jews only. Thank God that Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, is for "Whosoever Will!" Both Jews and Gentiles today are able to come to Jesus Christ for cleansing of sin. The Lord is today calling a people to be a holy nation, a family made up of born-again believers who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. This body will one day be assembled as the very Bride of Christ and wed to the Lord Jesus Himself.
Have you decided to gather the Bread of Life for yourself? Have you realized your need of a Savior, understanding that you are born in sin and that the wages or penalty of sin is death? Why not come to Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life right now! The Word of God is clear, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). John 3:36 states, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." Why not consider the words of the Bread of Life Himself, "I am the living bread which cometh 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).
Joseph: A Type of Christ
In Genesis Chapters 37-45 we have one of the most interesting and exciting biographies in the Word of God. This section of the Bible contains the story of Joseph and his brothers. The story of Joseph is a beautiful picture painted by the Holy Spirit which gives us a "type" of the Person and work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As one studies the life of Joseph, the hand of God is clearly seen providentially caring for this son of Jacob. A "type" is a "picture" or "shadow" revealed in the Word of God that portrays a person or thing in the future. Joseph’s life foreshadows the life of Christ and serves as such a type. One must realize that a "type" is never as perfect as the real thing, and certainly Joseph had his faults. Yet a "type" serves to hint or intimate someone or something is yet to come to pass.There are possibly more intimations of Joseph as a "type" of Christ than any other person in the Word of God. Genesis Chapter 37 reveals Joseph as a "favored son", and of course, the Lord Jesus Christ is called the "Beloved Son, the Only Begotten of the Father." From the very beginning of His incarnation we find that Christ was loved by the Father. Christ was special because He was "God manifested in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). Christ came to "seek and to save that which was lost." Christ came to "save sinners." Jesus Christ was the very fulfillment of Genesis 3:15, the first prophecy recorded in the Word of God. Truly, Christ was the "Favored Son" of the Father, for it was He whom God sent to as a Savior of the world.
In Genesis Chapter 38-39 Joseph is portrayed as a "faithful steward". In this chapter, Joseph is disciplined by God to become a great ruler. He is taught humility by giving up a "coat of many colors" for a servant’s robe. Jesus Christ too humbled Himself and was fashioned in the likeness of sinful man, yet without sin (Phil. 2:5-8). He is taught self-control as he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife. Christ too was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, yet He remained true to the Father (Matt. 4). Of course is is important to understand that Jesus was impeccable. He could never sin because He is God. Yet we see a type of Christ in the life of Joseph when he came under temptation in Egypt. Joseph is also taught the refining process of suffering when he was imprisoned unjustly for crimes not committed. Of course, Christ too was arrested, given a mock trial, beaten, ridiculed, and ultimately crucified unjustly. Thank God that Christ willingly did this for the joy that was set before Him - every born-again believer (Hebrews 12:2).
In Genesis Chapter 40 we find that Joseph was the "forgotten servant." Joseph had revealed the two dreams. Later when the cup-bearer was released and the baker hanged, the cup-bearer promised to speak in behalf of Joseph, but he forgot Joseph for two years. What a lesson for those who put their trust in man rather than God. Jesus came unto His own, and His own received Him not. He was rejected and despised of men, afflicted, a man of sorrows (Isa. 53). Today, like Joseph, the world does not consider Jesus Christ. The United States is quickly becoming an apostate nation who has forgotten God and the fact that our nation was founded upon the principles of the Word of God. As it was in the days of Isaiah, people seem more concerned with their "own ways" and doing their "own thing." While Jesus beckons men, women, boys, and girls to "come unto Him" for rest and salvation, He is still the most "Forgotten Servant" of all.
There are many other "types" one can find in these four chapters. Many studies have been written paralleling the life of Joseph and the Person and work of Christ. The
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following comparisons have been given by men such as Arthur W. Pink in Gleanings in Genesis; Dr. T. W. Callaway in his book entitled, Christ in the Old Testament; Ada R. Habershon’s book, The Study of Types; and Warren W. Wiersbe in his commentary, Expository Outlines on the Old Testament.
Jesus Christ is depicted in the life of Joseph in four particular manners: A Son, A Servant, A Sovereign, and A Savior. As "A Son" Joseph is a type of Christ in that he was "beloved of his father" (Gen. 37:3). So too was Christ the "Beloved of the Father" (Matt. 3:17). Joseph was a shepherd (Gen. 37:2), and of course, we learn that Jesus is the "Good Shepherd" (John 10:11-14), the "Great Shepherd" (Hebrews 13:20), and the "Chief Shepherd" (1 Peter 5:4). These three types are also revealed in the "Shepherd Psalms" (Psalms 22-24).
Joseph foreshadows Christ in that he was hated by his brethren (Gen. 37:4-5; 8). So too was Jesus despised and rejected by the nation of Israel (John 15:25). As Joseph discussed his dreams with his brothers concerning a day in which he would rule over them, they would not believe him (Gen. 37:5). These brothers became jealous of Joseph, and they schemed to rid themselves of him. The words of Christ were not believed either. His message was rejected as "blasphemy", and those who were religious leaders feared that He would usurp their authority (John 8:40; Matt. 26:64; John 7:5; Lk. 19:14), so they too schemed to kill Jesus.
Joseph proved to be a true witness (Gen. 37:3) in that his dreams came to pass exactly as he foretold. Christ is referred to as a True Witness as well in Revelation 3:14. All that Christ said has or will come to pass exactly as He foretold. As a son, Joseph was envied by his brethren (Gen. 37:11), and so was Christ (Mk. 15:10; Matt. 27:17-18). Joseph was sent to his brethren by his father, Jacob, for the purpose of seeking their welfare (Gen. 37:13-14). Christ too was sent by His Father to His brethren, Israel, for the purpose of seeking their welfare (Jn. 1:11; Lk. 20:13; Heb. 10:7; Jn. 3:17).
There are many other comparisons concerning Joseph as a son in typology of Christ. For instance, Joseph’s brothers bargained as Judah bargained for the betrayal of Christ (Gen. 37:26-27; Mk. 14:10); Joseph, like Jesus, was stripped (Gen. 37:23; Matt. 27:28; Jn. 19:23); Joseph’s brothers sat and watched as those who would take away their brother came by their camp. The Jews also sat and watched at the crucifixion of Christ (Gen. 37:25; Matt. 27:36); Joseph was sold as a slave for only 20 pieces of silver, and Christ Jesus our Lord was sold for thirty pieces of silver (Gen. 37:28; Matt. 26:15). Another type of Christ is when Joseph, like Christ, was taken to Egypt to escape death (Gen. 37:26; Matt. 2:14-15).
The second manner in which Joseph is a type of Christ is the manner of his being A Servant. Both Joseph and Christ are portrayed in Scripture as a servant who had close relations with God (Gen. 39:2, 21, 23; Jn. 16:32; Lk. 22:27). Both prospered despite the attempts of others (Gen. 39:2-3; Isa. 53:10). Joseph is a type of Christ in that he was given power (Gen. 39:4, 9), and of course, Christ also had all power in heaven and in earth being God incarnate (Jn. 3:35). Joseph pleased Potiphar as Christ also pleased the Father (Gen. 39:4; John 8:29). Both Joseph and Jesus were tempted to stray from doing their servant duties (Gen. 39:7; Matt. 4); both were falsely accused (Gen. 39:6-18; Matt. 26:59-60); and both were bound unjustly (Gen. 39:20; Matt. 27:2).
During the course of their mistreatment and unjust incarceration, neither offered any defense for themselves (Gen. 39:20; Isa. 53:7). While Joseph was imprisoned, there were two others who deserved their bondage - the cup-bearer and the baker. One was killed and the other delivered (Gen. 40:2-3). On the cross of Calvary, Jesus was crucified between two thieves who admittedly deserved their punishment. Before their deaths, one was saved and the other one lost (Lk. 23:32). Joseph and Christ both suffered under Gentiles, and both were respected by their jailers (Acts 4:26:27; Gen. 39:21; Lk. 23:47).
The third manner in which Joseph is a type of Christ is in his foreshadowing of Christ as A Sovereign. In the release of Joseph from a dungeon, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is depicted (Gen. 41:14). Joseph’s bonds were loosed, his clothes changed, the Spirit of God within him, and the wisdom of God upon him (Gen. 41:14; 38, 39) as was also true of Christ. After Joseph was released from prison, resurrected in a sense, he was a type of Christ in several different ways. Joseph ruled over the house of Egypt (Gen. 41:40) as does Christ rule over believers (Heb. 3:6). He ruled all the people (Gen. 41:40) as Christ is given power to rule over Israel (Acts 5:31). Joseph is a type of Christ in that he shared Pharaoh’s throne. Christ too shares the throne in Heaven (Rev. 3:21). Like the Father and the Son, Pharaoh did nothing without Joseph (Gen. 41:44; Jn. 15:5). Men bowed before Joseph (Gen. 41:43), as one day every knee shall bow before the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:10).
Joseph was given a new name by Pharaoh, Zaphnathpaaneah, which means "revealer of secrets" (Gen. 41:45). The Lord Jesus Christ was also a revealer of secrets as revealed in Luke 2:34-35 and Hebrews 4:12. Joseph was thirty years old when he began his ministry in Egypt. He was given a Gentile bride, Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On (Gen. 41:45-46). Christ was also thirty years old when He began His public ministry upon the earth (Lk. 3:23), and Christ’s bride is the Church which is made up of both Jews and Gentiles which believe on His name (1 Cor. 12:13). Those who came to Joseph in Egypt had to do what he said (Gen. 41:57). The same is true of Christ (John 2:5). Before any will come to Christ they must be hungry or thirsty spiritually. Jesus came to save "sinners", not good moral people. Only a person who realizes they are lost will ever call upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. They must realize their need as did those during the famine of Joseph’s day (Gen. 41:57; Isa. 49:6).
The fourth manner in which Joseph is a type of Christ is that of A Savior. We have already touched on this typology briefly, but there is such an unmistakable comparison that it must be addressed more thoroughly. Joseph was a savior of his people, though they knew him not (Gen. 42:8). When Christ came unto His own, His own received Him not (John 1:10-11; Acts 3:17). His brethren were guilty of his blood as were the Jews guilty of Christ’s blood (Gen. 42:22; Matt. 27:25). Joseph is seen weeping over his brethren (Gen. 42:24), and so did Christ weep over Israel (Lk. 19:41).
The brothers of Joseph did not recognize him the first time that they came to Egypt and saw him, but they did the second time they came (Gen. 45:1; Acts 7:13). The same was true of Jesus Christ. The first time that He came among His own people, Israel, most did not recognize Him as the Messiah. However, the second time that Christ comes to earth, every eye shall behold Him, and they shall wail because of Him as they look
upon Him whom they had pierced (Zech. 12:10; Rev. 1:7). When the brothers of Joseph came into his presence, they were troubled because of their conviction. They knew that they had done evil, and Joseph was unjustly treated. They feared that he would enact judgment upon them (Gen. 45:3). No doubt the Pharisees and scribes felt similar conviction when they came into the presence of Jesus Christ, for "no man spake as this man." When those who crucified Jesus stand before Him, no doubt they will fall down on their faces (Zech. 12:10).
Possibly the greatest of all examples of Joseph as a type of Christ is found in Genesis 45:4-15. In this passage Joseph bestows unmerited favor upon his guilty brothers who had unjustly sold him into bondage. His brothers did not deserve the mercy and grace that Joseph bestowed upon them, yet Joseph lovingly forgave them and showed them kindness. What a portrait of the amazing grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We who are born in iniquity and vile; who are double-dipped sinners in that we are born in sin and have been found guilty of committing sinful acts; and who by nature of the flesh are enmity with Him has God bestowed grace and mercy. Paul says of God our Savior, "Who will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." John says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Titus 2:11 clearly states, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." Christ has done for the whole world what Joseph did for his brothers. He was willing to forgive their sinful actions and enter into a long term relationship with them. Today Christ desires all sinners to come to Him and find rest.
After talking with his brothers, the brothers of Joseph were carry his message to his father and the rest of his family (Gen. 49:9-10). Believers too are to carry the message of Christ to a lost and sinful world. If we as believers do not compel others to come to Christ, the great commission will not be fulfilled. It is our responsibility to go into the highways and hedges, to the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind, and compel them to be saved. This is the message of Christ - "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:5). During the Tribulation Period, the brethren of Christ, 144,000 born-again Jews, will also carry this same message (Rev. 7). Because of their evangelistic efforts, a great multitude will be saved during this time. These will be those who had not heard the gospel of Jesus Christ before the Rapture of the Church took place, otherwise, they could not be saved, seeing that they had rejected the Lord by not obeying the gospel (2 Thess. 2:11-12).
In Genesis 45:18-19 Joseph invited his family to come to him. The Lord Jesus Christ invites all to come unto Him (Matt. 11:28; Rev. 22:17). Joseph is also a type of Christ in that those who came to him were not to concern themselves with the things of their former lives. Joseph told them, "Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours" (Gen. 45:20). What a great verse of Scripture! The same admonition is given to every child of God - "Regard not your stuff!" Why should we be concerned about what we will eat or wear? Will not the same God that saved us also take care of us? God has given us so many promises that He care for us that we should not be concerned with the stuff of our former lives. This is not our home for we are just passing through. We should not be burdened with "stuff" that is not conducive to our calling of
God. The temporal things of this world will simply slow us down in doing the Lord’s work. Paul told the Hebrews, "…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so earsily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…" (Hebrews 12:1-2). The Lord Jesus is our great example. During His earthly ministry He did not have a home to live in nor a pillow on which to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). He was not a wealthy person in the eyes of the world, yet we know that He created all that there is. He made Himself of no reputation, yet we know that His reputation precedes Him still. He was not concerned with the "stuff" of this world, nor did He concern Himself with the cares of this world. He did always that which pleased the Father, and you and I as believers should do the same.
As Joseph provided for the needs of his family which came to him in Egypt, so will Christ supply our every need. God’s Word promises, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory BY Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). Paul told the Corinthians, "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8). God help us to understand that God will supply all our needs, not our wants. Our wants should be aligned with the Word and Will of God for our lives. As we understand and grow in spiritual maturity, we will better trust the Lord to take care of the "stuff" of this world.
Truly Joseph is a "type" of Christ in that he foreshadows many aspects and characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ. In his life as a "Son" Joseph was truly a type of Christ. In his life as a "Servant" Joseph was certainly a shadow of the Servant’s attitude of Christ (Phil. 2:5-8). In his life as a "Sovereign" Joseph administrated in Egypt with justice and compassion. We should all be thankful that God too is longsuffering toward usward (2 Peter 3:9). Finally, in the life of Joseph, we see him as a "Savior" of his family and of all of Egypt. His wisdom in storing up grain during the years of plenty so that they would have food during the years of famine saved the people of Egypt, as well as the family of Jacob. Chris is the only Savior available to the world. Acts 4:12 clearly states, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
"The Seven Feasts of the Lord"
#1 - Passover; Unleavened Bread; & Firstfruits
Leviticus 23:1-14I. Introduction
God instituted "Seven Feasts" for the nation of Israel to observe.
These feasts are detailed in Lev. 23, and they serve as both memorials and a time-table of God’s prophetic calendar.
They served Israel as "object lessons" to remind them how merciful and gracious Jehovah God had been to them.
These "seven feasts" also serve the Church as well because they are rich in prophetic significance.
Some scholars contend that there are 5 Feasts, instead of Seven, since the first three are closely related.
We will study these as "Seven Feasts" because they are clearly distinguished in Lev. 23.
The names of these "Seven Feasts" are as follows:
1. Passover
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread
3. Feast of Firstfruits
4. Pentecost (Feast of Weeks or "Shavuot")
5. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)
6. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
7. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth)
The first three, Passover, Unleavened Bread, & Firstfruits are all closely related, and they are observed in the 1st Month of the Jewish year - Nisan or Abib.
We will see that these first three feasts depict for us the Death, Burial, & Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The last three feasts, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, & Tabernacles are also closely related and occur in the 7th.
The first four (4) feasts are PAST and have been literally fulfilled.
The last three (3) feasts are FUTURE and are prophetic.
These last three (3) feasts depict future events - Trumpets (Rap-ture); Day of Atonement (Tribulation & 2nd Coming of Christ); Tabernacles (Millennial Kingdom).
There is one other feast - Pentecost - in the middle - It depicts the Descent of the Holy Spirit & Birth of the Church.
Today we are living between Pentecost & the Feast of Trumpets!
There is a longer span (approximately 4 months) between these two feasts which provide us a beautiful picture of the Church Age or the Age of Grace in which we now are living.
The next feast listed is the Feast of Trumpets which wonderfully depicts the Rapture - The NEXT great event to occur.
It will be followed by the Tribulation Period, commonly referred to as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble or the Day of the Lord.
It will be during this time that God will purge His Chosen nation, Israel, in preparation for the 1,000 year reign of Christ upon earth.
We will examine each of these feasts closely during our study.
II. Jewish Observances Today
Leviticus 23 is a monumental chapter of God’s Word; It is filled with symbolism, types, and shadows.God’s plan for both the Jews and the Church is revealed in these seven feasts.
God was very practical in issuing these feasts in only one chapter.
They are mentioned elsewhere, but all of the vital and fundamental requirements are revealed in this one chapter of God’s Word.
If there was one portion of the Torah that the Jew would remember, it was this chapter of Leviticus; if there was any error in the observance of these feasts, it would mean banishment from God’s Chosen People, Israel.
Today, religious Jews celebrate these feasts in altered forms; it is impossible for them to observe the letter of the Law without a temple or sacrificial worship, but they attempt to modify them.
The feasts have lost their "Efficacy & Meaning" for the most part.
Therefore, the Jews do not comprehend the important "prophetic inferences" of the feasts." (Rom. 10-11)
Praise God! Christians DO NOT need to observe these feasts because we know that Jesus Christ fulfilled each one of the first four feasts - We have assurance that He will also fulfill the last three feasts.
III. Establishment of the Sabbath (Lev. 23:1-3)The religious calendar of Israel is the subject of this entire chapter.
The LORD established the Sabbath as a day of "NO Work".
One should notice that in all of the Feasts, there was no work to be done - Except by the Priest!
The same idea should be realized in our salvation - Only the Work of our HIGH PRIEST - Jesus Christ - availeth anything!
IV. 1st Feast - Passover - (Lev. 23:4-5)Not much is said concerning the Feast of Passover, and for obvious reasons - Israel had not long ago observed the very first Passover in the land of Egypt, so they fully understood its significance.
The Passover, which was to be observed on the 14th Day of the 1st Month (Nisan), represented "Redemption from Bondage"!
The Passover lamb was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:29).
Explain the Passover - (Exodus 12)
We read in 1 Cor. 5:7 that Jesus Christ is our Passover.
Gal. 4:4-6 reveals that it is the "Blood of Jesus Christ" that was shed in the fullness of time for the sins of the world.The same is clearly revealed in 1 Pet. 1:18-19 & 1 Jn. 2:1-2.
V. 2nd Feast - The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:6-8)The Feast of Unleavened Bread occurred in close conjunction with the Passover - It lasted for seven (7) days, beginning on the 15th Day of the 1st Month (Nisan) and continuing through the 21st Day of the 1st Month.
It is important to notice the exact days specified in God’s instructions because we will later show how that Christ fulfilled each feast in minute detail.
God’s Word is wonderful! How can anyone believe that mere men conjured up these passages is hard to understand.
During this feast, "no unleavened bread" was to be eaten.
Leaven is a picture of SIN - This feast pictures that one’s life should be free from all malice and sinfulness - Of course the only way one could ever put away sin in one’s life is to be IN Christ.Read 1 Cor. 5:8; 1 Pet. 2:1-2
You will also notice that there is "no lapse of time" between our Passover (Redemption) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (holiness).
Today, many Christians think that because they are new born babes in Christ that they have an excuse to live out some of their fleshly desires - Not according to God’s Word.
Religious Jews today still eat "unleavened bread" called "matzo" which is striped; pierced; and pure. Yet they do not see the significance of the type or shadow of Christ depicted in this tradition.
Read Isaiah 53 (excerpts) revealing how that Christ was pure, striped, & pierced for each of us.VI. 3rd Feast - The Feast of Firstfruits (Lev. 23:9-14)
The "presentation of the Wave Offering" - a sheaf of barley wheat - on the 17th Day of the 1st Month - depicts the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
This feast is the foundation of our faith - 1 Cor. 15:20 - "Jesus Christ is the Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep!"
Wednesday or Thursday or Friday Crucifixtion?Some say that it does not matter what day that Christ died on Cross of Calvary - but does it???
Matt. 12:38-40 - Is this a Truth or NOT???
I propose that Jesus Christ was crucified a Wednesday!
On the 10th day of the 1st month (Nisan) Jesus presented Him- self as the Messiah, yet He was rejected by a nation!
On the 14th day of the 1st month (Passover) He was crucified.
On the 17th day of the 1st month (Firstfruits) He arose from the grave victoriously conquering death, hell, and the grave.
This is in keeping with the exact dates of the 7 Feasts!
Jesus was crucified on Wednesday; spent Wednesday night; Thursday night; & Friday night in the heart of the earth.
He spent Thursday day; Friday day; & Saturday day in the heart of the earth.
Sometime after 6:00 pm Saturday Evening - He Arose - on the 17th Day of the 1st Month - fulfilling the exact dates of these important Feasts! Praise the Lord!
"Seven Feasts of the Lord"#2 - Pentecost
Leviticus 23:15-22I. Introduction
Having examined the first 3 Feasts of the Lord which picture the death and resurrection of Christ, as well as the walk of believers, let us now examine the 4th Feast.
Let us keep in mind that all of the first 4 Feasts have already been fulfilled by the Lord - therefore, we have a assurance that He will also fulfill that the last three as well.
Read Leviticus 23:15-22.
II. What Is Pentecost?The fourth feast of the Lord is called by a variety of names:
Pentecost (Greek for "fifty")
Feast of Weeks
Feast of Harvest
Shavuot (Hebrew for Feast of Weeks)
God gave very specific directions for counting the proper number of days until this fourth feast was to be observed.
It actually marked the "summer harvest", the second of the year, in which many more crops were available than that of Firstfruits, but not as many as would be forthcoming in the great fall harvest.
Read Lev. 23:15-16
Pentecost occurs on the "day following the Sabbath" - Exactly 50 days AFTER the Feast of Firstfruits (17th day of the first month).
It is significant to realize that Jesus Ascended after 40 days from His resurrection - then 10 days later (50 days after Firstfruits) the great day called Pentecost occurred when the Holy Spirit descend- ed from Heaven upon the disciples gathered in the Upper Room.
Read Acts 1:1-14; 2:1-6
III. The Significance of the "Wave Loaves" (Lev. 23:17-22)
There is also great significance in the subtle instructions of the "wave loaves" that were offered on Pentecost.
Notice Important Characteristics of Loaves:
Two Loaves
Equal in weight
Baked with Leaven
Called "Firstfruits"
Significant Verses: Lev. 23:17 & 22
The fact that there two loaves equal in weight; baked with leaven; and called firstfruits gives us a wonderful picture.
These can only picture sinful mankind; equal in importance; who have been redeemed (firstfruits).
The Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit are never pictured by the leaven of sinfulness - Therefore, we have an exact picture of what occurred that day on Pentecost in Jerusalem.
Read Acts 2:6-21; 37-41
There were 3,000 souls saved that day on Pentecost - both Jews and Gentiles were saved - vs. 21; 39
Today, like the 2 Leavened Wave Loaves of Equal Weight,
the Church Was Born on Pentecost & Is Made Up of Jew & Gentile (1 Cor. 12:13).
We often think of the Church as being Gentile only; Not So! TheChurch is made of 2 Groups of People: Jews & Gentiles (1 Cor. 12:13) - God Has Always Had a Remnant! The greater harvest will be saved at the 2nd Coming of the Lord - Read Zech. 12:10; 13:1.
By the Feast of Pentecost the Lord was predicting that the Church would be comprised of these 2 groups.
vs. 22 - The Gospel is for EVERYONE - the poor; the stranger
How wonderful it must have been for Peter, who had denied Jesus three times to have a part in the winning of 3,000 souls that day!
It is also interesting to note that 3,000 is the exact number that were killed on the day the LAW came down from Mt. Sinai (Ex. 32:28) because of their idolatry with the golden calf.
"The Letter Killeth…the Spirit Gives Life!"
IV. Conclusion
He was crucified on Passover - Buried by Unleavened Bread - Raised on Firstfruits - and Sent the Holy Ghost on Pentecost!Four (4) Witnesses such as these are difficult to explain away.
Today - We are living Between Pentecost & Trumpets!
"Seven Feasts of the Lord"
#3 - Feast of Trumpets
Leviticus 23:23-25I. Introduction
So far we have examined the first 4 Feasts - Passover; Feast of Unleavened Bread; Feast of Firstfruits; & Pentecost.
Each of these first four feasts picture an event that has already come to pass:
Passover - pictures the Death of Jesus Christ
Feast of Unleavened Bread - pictures the Burial
Feast of Firstfruits - pictures the Resurrection of Christ
Pentecost - pictures the Descent of the Holy Spirit & the Birth of the Church
The first three occurred in the first month of the Jewish calendar of Nisan - 14th day; 15th day; & 17th day respectfully; Pentecost occurred on the 50th day following the Feast of Firstfruits.
We have already discussed how that these feasts picture the great events that occurred in the Life of Christ and the Church.
The Last 3 Feasts are prophetical pictures of great events to come.
Let’s examine the next feast outlined in Leviticus 23:23-25 - The Feast of Trumpets.
II. The Use of TrumpetsGod seems to have enjoyed the Trumpet ever since Isaac was spared by virtue of the "ram" being caught in the thicket by itshorn.
After all, were it not for Isaac, we would not have had Jacob, nor the tribes of Israel; without the Jews, we would not have had the Bible, the apostles, the disciples, and of course, the Messiah.
The Jewish "shofar" (trumpet) was nothing but a "ram’s horn".
In the Jewish economy, the trumpet had many important uses as seen in Numbers 10:
Sound a Warning
Sound an Alarm
Sound for Worship
Sound to Assemble
Sound to Move
It would seem then that God enjoyed the hearing of the Trumpet we see how it was used so often in the days of the Old Testament.
It was used in the "defeat of Jericho"; It was used to announce the "Year of Jubilee" outlined in Lev. 25:8-10 - "proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" is engraved on the "Liberty Bell" in Philadelphia, PA.
However, even previous to Jericho, God instructed Moses to use the trumpet on Mt. Sinai concerning the 5th Feast. (Lev. 23:24)
III. The Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:23-25)The purpose of the Feast of Trumpets as outlined in Lev. 23 was so that the Jews would be assembled together to in the temple.
The first three feasts occurred in the 1st month (Nisan) which was in the spring and normally in the month of April.
These first three feasts had to do with the spring harvest and they looked forward to greater harvests of summer & fall.
Pentecost celebrated the summer harvest and usually occurred in early summer during the month of May or early June.The harvest that was gleaned during this time of the year was greater than that of the spring harvest, but not as great as that of the fall.
In the fall month of September (7th month - Tishrei), there was a greater harvest than both the spring or the summer!
The Feast of Trumpets began on the 1st day of the 7th month (Tishrei) and it was initiated by the blowing of the trumpet by the High Priest.
On that day, the High Priest would stand upon the SW parapet of the Temple and blow the trumpet so that it could be heard by all in the surrounding fields.
At the instant that the Jewish workers heard the trumpet sound, all would immediately stop harvesting, even if they were not finished (think about that!) and go to the Temple for worship!
In those days, as it is sometimes today, a Jew & an Arab might be working side by side in the fields - but when the trumpet sounded on this particular day, the Jew would stop and go to worship, while the Arab kept on harvesting.
Jesus used this same analogy in Matt. 24:36-44 of the 2nd Coming.
IV. Prophetic Pictures of Feast of TrumpetsWe find quite a long span of time between the first four feasts and the 5th Feast.
Many believe, and so do I, that this long span of time is a picture of the present age in which we are living.
The Death, Burial, & Resurrection of Christ has already come to pass; The Descend of the Holy Spirit & The Birth of the Church has also come to pass - We are now living in the "Age of Grace - The Church Age!"
The next great event on God’s prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the Church!
The Rapture Is Clearly Associated with Trumpets:
1 Thess. 4:16-18
1 Cor. 15:51-52
When that great trumpet sounds, the miracle of all miracles will take place!
V. Old Testament Picture of the Rapture - The Triumph of JerichoThe story of Jericho is a beautiful picture of the Rapture of the Church!
As a matter of fact, the whole story from Exodus to Jericho gives a wonderful illustration of the first 5 Feasts we have now studied.
The story of the Passover, our first feast, illustrates the salvation of the believer by the blood of the Lamb of God.
The trip through the Red Sea pictures Baptism; then the wilderness wanderings picture this life on earth!
Finally, we see Jericho - that beautiful city - The first thing that the nation of Israel saw after a long period of wandering in the harsh desert or wilderness was the beautiful city of Jericho - an oasis in the middle of the hot, arid sands!
It was NO coincidence that God chose for Israel to cross over into the promised land at this place - It was loving and kind!
Josh. 6:5 states that after the blowing of the Trumpet, the people shouted and the walls fell down, "and every man ASCENDED UP into the CITY!"Likewise, when WE Christians cross over, whether by death or by rapture, the first thing we will see will be that beautiful city built on high - New Jerusalem!!
Look at Joshua 6:5 in comparison to 1 Thess. 4:16-17 - It’s as if God purposely indicated the correlation.If the Israelites could believe that God could help them cross over and defeat such an armed and walled city as Jericho, then why should we doubt that God will deliver us from this world by way of translation or Rapture???
Another important note - Joshua/Yeshua are the same names in both Hebrew & English.
VII. ConclusionSadly, only a remnant of Israel will be harvested in this great day!
Jeremiah 8:20 - "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."He realized that many of the Jews would not be in that wonderful harvesting of souls!
However, for the remaining Jews not in the Rapture, God has not forsaken them - Remember, the Feast of Trumpets was a call to assemble for Israel.
When the Rapture occurs, Israel will be regathered in their home- land - Palestine.
Today, we are seeing a beginning of such a restoration, but many Jews are stilled scattered over the globe - Most by choice.
Isa. 27:12-13 - (READ) "Regathering of Israel"Why will Jews regather to Israel??? (Illustration of Gary in Tel-Aviv - something was drawing him there)
Another probable reason is the False Covenant with Antichrist -
However, 2 Thess. 2:3-4 reveals that the Antichrist will desecrate the temple and exalt himself as God!
No doubt the Jews will resist such a terrible ruler, find themselves highly persecuted, and many will die.
When the Lord returns, Rom. 11:26 - "And so all Israel shall be saved…." - That is, all that is still alive and faithful!
Another interesting note - the Feast of Trumpets occurs on the 7th New Moon of the Year - (Seventh Month - Tishrei); This is a significant time for the conclusion of an age - 6,000 yrs. have already come to pass. - The 7th Millennium is about to begin!