“And one loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the Lord.”
This verse is part of the instructions given to Moses by God for consecrating Aaron and his sons as priests to serve in the tabernacle. In the preceding verses, God details the elaborate process of consecrating the priests, which involves various offerings, sacrifices, anointing, and the laying on of hands.
“One loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer”: These items represent the Bread of the Presence, also known as the Showbread or Bread of the Face. It was a special offering placed on the table in the Holy Place of the tabernacle (later, the temple). This offering consisted of twelve loaves of bread, symbolising the twelve tribes of Israel. Each Sabbath, the priests would replace the old loaves with fresh ones, and the outgoing loaves were consumed by the priests in a holy place. The Bread of the Presence represented God’s provision and sustenance for His people.
“Out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the Lord”: The bread used for the Bread of the Presence was unleavened, meaning it was made without yeast or any leavening agents. Leaven symbolises sin and corruption in the Bible. By using unleavened bread, God emphasises the purity and holiness required in His presence.
The Bread of the Presence held several spiritual lessons for the people of Israel and, by extension, for Christians today:
- God’s Faithfulness and Provision: The constant presence of the Bread on the table in the Holy Place reminded the Israelites of God’s faithfulness to provide for them, just as He provided manna during their wilderness journey. It also reminds us that God is the source of all our sustenance and blessings.
- Continual Worship: The Bread of the Presence was an ever-present offering before the Lord. Similarly, as Christians, we are called to offer our lives as living sacrifices, worshiping God continually (Romans 12:1).
- Community and Unity: The twelve loaves of bread represented the twelve tribes of Israel, showing the unity of God’s people. In the New Testament, we see the concept of the Church as the body of Christ, with diverse members functioning together in unity (1 Corinthians 12:12‑27).
- “Bread of Life”: In John 6:35, Jesus identifies Himself as the “Bread of Life”. Just as the Bread of the Presence sustained the physical life of the priests, Jesus sustains our spiritual life. He is the ultimate provision from God, and by partaking in Him through faith, we have eternal life.
In summary, Exodus 29:23 teaches us about God’s faithfulness, our need for continual worship, the importance of unity among God’s people, and Jesus Christ as the ultimate Bread of Life. It reminds us to seek sustenance and satisfaction from Him alone, as He is the source of all that we need.
