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| Man Does Not Live By Bread Alone... |
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Imagine wandering in this place for 40 years (Photo of Sinai Desert taken by a friend)...God does work in mysterous ways choosing to sometimes humble us, testing us to know what is in our heart, whether we will keep his commandments, or not...Just think - -God let Israel hunger and He fed them with manna, *foreshadowing of Jesus Christ* (THE BREAD OF HEAVEN), that He might make Israel know that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.
8:1 "All the commandment which I command you this day you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers. 8:2 And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not. 8:3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. |
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| To add a comment to "Man Does Not Live By Bread Alone..." |
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| August 27, 2008 |
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| Hi Vicky, WOW, I can't even fathom that!...40 YEARS!! Not 40 hours, not 40 days, not even 40 months! That was many peoples whole life. Look how desolate, how dry! And yet, God was able to sustain them even in THAT! Thank you God, for Your Living Water that refreshes us!!! :) Thank you Vicky for sharing this. :) luvya!! |
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| August 27, 2008 |
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I know what you mean Joni...40 years is a long time!!! I loved what you said about God being able to sustain them...The bread from heaven was with them even then...That is amazing to me!!! The number 40 is interesting too as it keeps coming up over and over again in the Bible..Also, it's interesting that the average gestational period for humans is 40 weeks...I searched for some Biblical examples of 40 on the internet to save myself some time typing...I found the following:
Biblical Background: According to the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus spent "forty days" in the desert before beginning his public ministry (see Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2). Matthew's Gospel even specifies that it was "forty days and forty nights" (Matt 4:2). Whether or not this period of Jesus' life was precisely forty days is irrelevant theologically, since the number "forty" is highly symbolic in all biblical literature, simply representing "a long time." Consider the following examples: Forty Days: In the story of Noah and the Great Flood, it rains for "forty days and forty nights" (Gen 7:4, 12, 17; 8:6). It takes a full forty days to embalm the body of Jacob, according to Egyptian practice (Gen 50:3). Moses spends "forty days and forty nights" on Mount Sinai when receiving the Law from God (Exod 24:18; cf. Deut 9:9-25). Moses spends another "forty days and forty nights" on the mountain, encountering God a second time (Exod 34:28; cf. Deut 10:10) The Israelite spies scout out the Promised Land for forty days (Num 13:25, 34); but due to their lack of faith, God requires the Israelites to wander in the desert for forty years (see below). The Philistine Goliath taunts the Israelite army for forty days before David fights him (1 Sam 17:16). The prophet Elijah travels forty days and forty nights to Mount Horeb to encounter God (1 Kings 19:8). The prophet Ezekiel lies on his right side for forty days to symbolize the sins of the people of Judah (Ezek 4:6). The prophet Jonah preaches in the Assyrian capital, "Forty days more, and Ninevah shall be overthrown" (Jonah 3:4). After his resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciples for forty days, before ascending into heaven (Acts 1:3). Forty Years: In the days of Moses, the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years, as mentioned in numerous biblical texts (Exod 16:35; Num 14:33-34; 32:13; Deut 2:7; 8:2-4; 29:5; Josh 5:6; Neh 9:21; Ps 95:10; Amos 2:10; 5:25; Acts 7:36, 42; 13:18; Heb 3:10, 17). Several biblical figures are forty years old when they marry (Isaac in Gen 25:20; Esau in Gen 26:34), or when other life-changing events take place (Joshua in Josh 14:7). After some Israelite spies scout out the Promised Land for forty days (see above), God requires the Israelites to wander in the desert for forty years, due to their lack of faith (Num 14:33-34). Several of the "Judges" enable the land of Israel to have "rest" for forty years, including Othniel (Judg 3:11), Deborah (5:31), Gideon (8:28), and Eli (1 Sam 4:18). When the Israelites sin, God lets their enemies dominate or harrass them for forty years (the Philistines in Judg 13:1). Ezekiel prophesies that the Egyptians will also be punished for forty years (Ezek 29:11-13). Several great kings reign over Israel for forty years, including David (2 Sam 5:4; 1 Kgs 2:11; 1 Chron 29:27), Solomon (1 Kgs 11:42; 2 Chron 9:30), Jehoash (2 Kgs 12:1; aka Joash, 2 Chron 24:1). Forty years is an especially prominent time period in the Acts of the Aposles: a man healed by Peter and John is said to be "more than forty years old" (Acts 4:22); Moses was forty years old when he killed the Egyptian (7:23) Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush takes place forty years later (7:30); the Israelites spent forty years in the desert (7:36, 42; 13:18); and King Saul supposedly ruled over Israel for forty years (13:21).
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| August 27, 2008 |
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Very COOL! :) Apparently, 40 is important like 7 is! |
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| August 27, 2008 |
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Remember the 40 days of Purpose? We partcipated in that at our church in Columbia and that's how they kicked off their small group ministry. Has H'ville First read the book together?
Good post, Vicki |
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| September 04, 2008 |
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| Kay, I do remember 40 Days of Purpose...We did that about 3 years ago at H'ville First...It was great!!! I still have good memories of it...We met at various homes in small groups...The group Jimmy and I were in was at Lucy's house...Lucy Scharein's...Lucy is a wonderful hostess and and always made our small group feel welcome...I don't think she thought she could do a good job with the 40 Days of Purpose, but she did an extraordinary job....Excellent!!! |
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