Devotions from the Heart: What Are We Feeding On?

by Pastor Derek Gitsham

What Are We Feeding On?

Joshua 5:12 “And the manna ceased on
the morrow after they had eaten of
the old corn of the land.”

Israel had lived for 40 years on the
manna in the wilderness supplied by
the Lord. But the moment they entered
the Promised Land, the manna ceased and
a new provision was made. The wilderness
and the Promised Land both had their
foods: manna in the wilderness, the
old corn in the Promised Land.

Jesus later referred to the manna as
not being the “bread from heaven.” The
Pharisees, however, had believed it was
bread from heaven. Jesus said, “Moses
gave you not the bread of heaven, but
My Father giveth you the true bread from
heaven.” Jesus Himself was the true bread.

Israel’s presence in the wilderness was
never God’s perfect will. Though He met
their needs there, His will was to advance
them to the Promised Land. The delay was
of their own making, through unbelief and
doubt. They were turned back into the
wilderness because of unbelief. God still
provides for His people during these times,
but it is not His perfect will for them.
Hence, the name of manna, “What is it?”
They did not know what it was, but God
fed them with it.

A saint cannot eat this bread and not
know who it is that he eats. Jesus said,
“Except you eat of the flesh of the Son
of Man and drink of His blood you shall
not have life in you.” Again, He said,
“You search the Scriptures, for in them
you think you have life, but you do not
come to me.”

The enemy of our souls will do everything
to keep us from the true Bread. The Promised
Land, the place of our inheritance, is that
place where we will eat the true bread. We
are brought out to be brought in. Let it
suffice us to eat of that eternal life in
this new year lest we find ourselves
feeding on lesser things that can only
minister death to our souls.


Pastor Derek Gitsham
Joshua 5:12
the bread of Heaven