BREAD IN THE HOUSE
Ruth 1:1-6 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread.
“for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread”
There was a famine in the land which had resulted in some people leaving Bethlehem in search of bread – there is a famine in the church in this day for lack of what this bread represents
BETHLEHEM
Bethlehem’s name
The word Bethlehem signifies "the house of bread," and Jesus Christ is the Bread of his people, on which they feed. Ephratah was the old name of the place which the Jews retained and loved. The meaning of it is, "fruitfulness," or "abundance." Jesus was born in the house of fruitfulness. It is Jesus that makes us fruitful. "If a man abides in me," he says, "and my words abide him, he shall bring forth much fruit." Glorious Bethlehem Ephratah! Rightly named! Fruitful house of bread—the house of abundant provision for the people of God!
Bethlehem’s history
A place of death and life – famine and feast
Genesis 35:16-20 Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Benoni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem) And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.
It was here that Rachel had to stop and give birth to a son – Benjamin. Before she died she called her child “Benoni” which means ‘son of my sorrow’, because of the pain of his birth. But after Rachel’s passing, Jacob changed his name to “Benjamin” which mean ‘son of my right hand’ this is a type of Jesus Christ – His Death and Resurrection
A Place of famine and feast – Ruth
A place of anointing – David anointed King – Jesus anointed King
1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”
A place of birthing the supernatural - it was in Bethlehem that Jesus was born
Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
Bethlehem’s position
A place of humbleness and reliance upon God
It is said to be "little among the thousands of Judah." Why is this? Because Jesus Christ always goes among little ones, He was born in the little one "among the thousands of Judah." not on Hebron’s royal mount, not in Jerusalem’s palaces but the humble, village of Bethlehem. - Christ is always born in Bethlehem among the little ones. Big hearts never get Christ inside of them; Christ lies not in great hearts, but in little ones. Mighty and proud spirits never have Jesus Christ - he who hath a broken heart, and a low spirit, shall have the Savior, but none else. He heals not the prince and the king, but "the broken in heart, and he binds up their wounds."
THE BREAD
It comes from heaven and is spiritual in nature
Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.
The showbread was also called the “Face Bread” – a symbol of God’s Presence – “face to face” a renewed presence of God
Exodus 25:30 “And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.
Bread speaks of the proceeding word and living Word of God
Deuteronomy 8:3 “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Bread represents healing and deliverance
Mark 7:26-29 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”
Bread represents the promise of God to defeat our enemies and bring us into victory and freedom
Num 14:9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
B
read provides our daily needs – no longer a lack
Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Exodus 16:17-18 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.
Jesus is the Bread who sustains us in all things
John 6:32-33 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
48 “I am the bread of life.
51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
THE BREAD RETURNS
Naomi represents the prodigals, the backslidden once partakers of bread but who have left because of famine
Ruth represents those who become new believers for they here the message of the “bread” – gospel
God is visiting Bethlehem again – the bread is returning to the House of God
When God returns Bread to the House we should be excited for it means:
The Manifest Presence of God
The Proceeding revelation of the word of God
Healing and Deliverance
Victory and freedom over our enemies
Sometimes the church is like a bakery we have the smell of bread but no supply – people come to buy – to eat but there is nothing to give – but God is causing the famine to become a feast – there will be no lack – in Jesus day there was no ark of the Presence in the Holy of Holies – it had become a “form of godliness that lacked the power”
The hungry shall return when they hear the rumor – there is bread in the house
Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Psa 132:15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Expect!
Mat 14:16 But Jesus said unto them: They need not depart; you give them to eat.
5,000 people – receive the bread – break the bread – give the bread – send no one away hungry
