In Exodus 25:23-30, we see God giving
instruction to Moses for the construction of the second piece of furnishings,
the Table of Shewbread and the golden articles to be housed in the Holy Place
of the Tabernacle. This Table had been referred to as “the table of
the bread of the Presence” in Numbers 4:7. Then in Leviticus 24:6 it was
referred to as “the pure gold table.” In 2 Chronicles 13:11, it was referred to
as “the clean table” and in 1 Kings 7:48, Solomon called it “the golden table
on which was the bread of the Presence.” It
was one of the three furnishings placed in the Holy place.
Structurally, like the Ark of the Covenant, it was
made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. This Table was about three feet tall,
three feet in length and one and a half feet in width with gold trimmings
around its edge. This table also had four rings, two on each side for the
purpose of transportation with two poles similar to those for the Ark. But
unlike the Ark, the two poles used for transporting the Table of Shewbread were
not left there permanently in the rings. Notice that the Tabernacle
and all the furnishings were not massive structures. It tells us that the
importance is not in how massive the structure was, but the message God wants
to convey through them.
Verses 29-30 show us several articles that were
made together with the table. The golden plates, most likely to place the bread
of the presence. Golden dishes to hold the incense and the golden jars and
bowls for the pouring of the offering. Why were jars and bowls kept in the Holy
Place when the offering was to be made at the courtyard? It was most likely
kept in the Holy place for safekeeping because they were made of gold for Holy
purpose. When they were needed they would be taken out for use. In Exodus
34:16, God specifically referred to the “drink offerings.” On the Table would
also be twelve loaves of bread. When we think of a loaf of bread, we imagine it
to be like a whole loaf of “Gardenia bread.” But it was not so. Why? Because
the Table was too small to house 12 loaves of Gardenia bread. So, a loaf of
bread was most likely referring to one piece of "roti-prata" liked
bread. So, there were twelves pieces stacked up in two piles vertically on two
golden plates.
Many students of the Bible had drawn all sorts of
lessons from the Tabernacle and the different pieces of its furnishings. But we
must not overstretch what God wants to teach us. So, we ask ourselves what does
God wants us to learn from His instruction on the Table of Shewbread? What’s
important about this Table was not in the structure of the Table, but the bread
placed on it. We must not extrapolate meaning out of nowhere. Instead, let us
allow other scriptures to help us unlock the meaning of it. We should avoid
coming to any conclusion independent of other scriptures. A safe guide would be
to ask ourselves what has the New Testament said about them?
What can we make out of the bread? It is not
because God needs the bread for sustenance. If we have this notion, it would be
no different from the belief of the pagans. Their “so-called” gods need bread
for their sustenance, but our God is the self-sufficient and self-existent One.
He does not need us to feed Him bread. Neither does He need our help to
survive. But the opposite is true. We need God in order to survive - both
spiritually and physically. The moment He removes our breath, we will be dead
physically. The moment we are disconnected from Him, we will be dead
spiritually. He is the sustenance of our life. We are utterly dependent on God
to live.
Jesus refers to Himself as the Bread of life in
John 6. He is not just supernatural bread but also the spiritual, sustaining
and satisfying bread. Like the bread on the Table of Shewbread must be
constantly changed so that they would never become stale, so also must our
relationship with Him stay current. We need to constantly renew our mind and
commitment so that our relationship with Him will always be intact. It is worth
noting that there were twelve loaves of bread sowing us that Israel’s every
tribe was always in God’s presence. So, we take heart that like the bread that
was ever in God’s presence, He also carries us daily and we are ever in His
presence. Like the bread that was ever in God’s presence, our needs are ever
before Him. He will provide all our daily needs if we trust Him to. There
are so many lessons to draw on. The two piles of bread tell us that He will
abundantly supply our need, not just for a day, not just for a month or a year
but day by day, week by week, month by month and year by year all through life.
Praise God for His bountiful provision!
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