What Is It?

Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Feb. 26, 2006, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. 

WHAT IS IT?

By Michael D. O’Neal
Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church
Albany, Georgia

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Scripture Reading: Ex. 16:1-15

Text: Ex. 16:15

Exodus 16:15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

Introduction: This Bible testifies of the goodness of God and the badness, or depravity, of man. God, by His loving grace, brought the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. However, once escaped, they complained and murmured against God when it did not appear that there was food to eat along the way. They complained against God and against the leaders God used to bring them out of slavery.

They had yet to learn that the same God who had power to bring the plagues upon Egypt and to part the Red Sea to let them cross, could also provide food enough to sustain them in their journey to the promised land.

God gave them quail that evening as an appetizer, and in the morning He gave them bread from heaven, a small round, white thing, on the ground. This was unique indeed. No one had ever seen its like. According to our text they called it “manna,” for they didn’t know what it was.

The word “manna” means “What is it?”

I have preached at least one entire message to show how that the manna God gave them was a prophetic picture of the true manna God would send later, the Lord Jesus Christ, the living bread.

However, I want to say that the manna should also remind us of the Bible, the word of God.

Jesus is the incarnate Word of God (Jn. 1:1,14).
The Bible is the inscribed word (2 Tim. 3:16 – scripture – inscribed), written down, with a personal note for you and me.

Let me say that the manna from heaven should remind us of our Bible, because:

1. It was supernatural
2. It was special
3. It was sufficient

“What is it?” they asked, every time they referred to the bread that God had sent. Well, I want to answer the question for you today. What IS your Bible? What IS this Book about which we make such emphasis?

  I. IT IS FOOD IN THE WILDERNESS

God characterized the Promised Land as a land flowing with milk and honey. However, before they ever arrived, God provided them manna in the wilderness. Thinking of the word of God, the Bible is like milk and honey!

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Psalms 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

     A. The Bible is pure

     B. The Bible is pleasant

     C. The Bible is precious

 II. IT IS FUEL FOR YOUR WORK

Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

     A. Energy

     B. Endurance

     C. Extra boost for emergency work loads

III. IT IS A FLASHLIGHT FOR YOUR WALK

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

     A. In your hand

     B. On your head – mounted
        on the front of the helmet
        of salvation

     C. In your heart

 IV. IT IS A FIRE FOR YOUR WARMTH

Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

The Bible will fire up

      A. Your courage – Jer. 20:9

      B. Your concern for the work of God

      C. Your communion with Jesus – Lk. 24:32