Notes

• Manna

• was the “bread from heaven”

• In fact, it was a white seed-like substance. Could be made into bread-like cakes relatively easily

• Tasted like “wafers made from honey” or “wafers made from oil”

• Connected to God’s word (Deut 8:3)

• Learned to trust in God as provider of food (Num 11; Exo 16)

• People got tired and complained about the monotony of manna (Num 11:6)

• Secreted from insects who feed on sap of tree

• Deut 8.3 – one does not live by bread alone

• Would break down after a day

• Here the manna comes to an end

• Came after people were circumsized

• In Egypt, people were circumsized regularly; but in the wilderness none of the children were done so

• Now, for the first time, they circumsized the children – and this corresponded with God removing the manna

• Circumcision

• Practiced in Egypt and surrounding cultures long before Jews came to be (liberal view)

• Jews originated the practice and it spread to Egypt and others (conservative view)

• Exodus 12.48 – even aliens in the land were encouraged to practice circumcision – and required if they were to eat Passover

• Even Deuteronomy says to “circumsize” your heart (Deut 10.16)

• Problem with circumcision

• Only for men

• Not very public form of witness

• “one and done” mentality

• Resolution to circumcision

• Baptism replaces circumcision – available for women too

• Eunuch was baptized

• Circumcision of heart needs to be done continually

• Perhaps need some type of private commitment

• Or circumcision of heart is more public

• Scripture was communal in nature – it was when the community practiced circumcision that the manna ceased

• Jesus as manna

• Jesus gets old?

• Jesus as Word of God?

Sermon Outline

1. Illustration - ??

2. Problem with text

a. Outdated

b. Gets rid of manna – what’s wrong with manna?

i. Jesus is manna

ii. Manna is from God

c. Circumcision is not helpful

i. Male-only

ii. Very private

iii. One-and-done

3. Resolution to text

a. Circumcision

i. Baptism replaces circumcision – available for women too

ii. Eunuch was baptized

iii. Circumcision of heart needs to be done continually

iv. Perhaps need some type of private commitment

v. Or circumcision of heart is more public

vi. Scripture was communal in nature – it was when the community practiced circumcision that the manna ceased

b. Manna

i. was the “bread from heaven”

ii. In fact, it was a white seed-like substance. Could be made into bread-like cakes relatively easily

iii. Tasted like “wafers made from honey” or “wafers made from oil”

iv. Connected to God’s word (Deut 8:3)

v. Learned to trust in God as provider of food (Num 11; Exo 16)

vi. People got tired and complained about the monotony of manna (Num 11:6)

vii. Secreted from insects who feed on sap of tree

viii. Deut 8.3 – one does not live by bread alone

ix. Would break down after a day

4. Message

a. Ate in the land of Canaan – went from sustaining themselves only on God to bringing God into the world, and doing some give and take – gave circumcision and took sustenance

b. Change your heart before entering a holy place

c. Any place can be holy – if we make it so