BREAD AND BELONGING
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me, for My Father has given them to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.”
John 10:28-29 (NLT)
When God gave Moses instructions for building the tabernacle, He included a table. It might seem like a small detail compared to something like the Ark of the Covenant, but the table mattered deeply. It was more than a place to put bread. It helped the people remember a moment when they shared a meal with God.
In Exodus 24, after agreeing to the covenant, the leaders of Israel ate and drank in God’s presence. That meal was a celebration of their relationship with Him. So, when God asked them to build a table and keep fresh bread on it at all times, He was saying, Remember the relationship we started. Keep it close.
The bread reminded them that God provides. He had already fed them with manna in the wilderness. And now, this table stood as a quiet but constant reminder that He would keep caring for them.
But there’s something else worth noticing. Around the edge of the table was a rim, designed to keep the bread from falling off. Even this was intentional. It was a picture of protection. In the same way, God keeps us close and safe.
Jesus picked up on this same idea when He said, No one will snatch them out of My hand. That’s the kind of security that comes with a relationship with Him. When you belong to God, you’re not balancing on the edge, hoping you don’t fall. You’re held with the strongest and most secure hands in the world.
The table was a place to remember, and still is. It reminds us of a faithful God who feeds, protects and never lets go.
APPLICATION: Where in your life right now do you need to be reminded that God is holding you? Maybe it’s in a relationship that feels fragile, a decision that’s weighing on you, or a worry that won’t let go. Bring that to Him today. Let the image of the table with its protective rim remind you that you’re not alone or unguarded. God sees you, and He is keeping you close.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for inviting me to Your table. I don’t want to forget how faithful You’ve been. Help me trust that You’re not just with me, You’re holding me. I’m safe in Your hands. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?