Pão
O pão é símbolo central na Bíblia: do maná no deserto ao pão da vida — Jesus. A Escritura usa o pão para ensinar sobre provisão divina, comunhão e dependência espiritual.
O maná do céu
Deus alimentou Israel no deserto com pão do céu. O maná era diário, fiel e suficiente — retrato da provisão constante de Deus.
11 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:12 'I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak unto them, saying: At dusk ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.'13 And it came to pass at even, that the quails came up, and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew round about the camp.14 And when the layer of dew was gone up, behold upon the face of the wilderness a fine, scale-like thing, fine as the hoar-frost on the ground.15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another: 'What is it?' --for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them: 'It is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna; and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
23 And He commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven;24 And He caused manna to rain upon them for food, and gave them of the corn of heaven.25 Man did eat the bread of the mighty; He sent them provisions to the full.
14 Who causeth the grass to spring up for the cattle, and herb for the service of man; to bring forth bread out of the earth,15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, making the face brighter than oil, and bread that stayeth man's heart.
O pão da vida
Jesus declarou: 'Eu sou o pão da vida.' Quem vem a Ele nunca terá fome, e quem nele crê jamais terá sede. Ele é o sustento eterno.
3 And He afflicted thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every thing that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Partilha e comunhão
O partir do pão une o corpo de Cristo. Na Ceia, na generosidade e na partilha, expressamos a comunhão com Deus e uns com os outros.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Provisão divina
O justo não é desamparado e seus descendentes não mendigam pão. Deus provê com fidelidade o alimento de cada dia.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
1 Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.2 Divide a portion into seven, yea, even into eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.