A Lenten Look at Bread brings us to one of the most telling moves of God in Scripture: the revelation that Jesus is the bread from heaven. We have much to dig into, dear gardeners! Wait—why is this a garden topic, instead of a devotion for a baker’s blog? Because one humble plant, coriander, sprouts in the middle of this metaphor of craving-madness. A garden spice grabs our attention!
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you…The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Exodus 16:4,31 NIV
According to the Lord, coriander seed hints to us of what manna looked like, this mysterious bread from heaven that appeared on the desert floor in the mist of daily dewdrops.
In the morning there was a layer of dew on the ground around the camp. The layer of dew evaporated, and on the surface of the desert there was something small and flaky, as small as hoarfrost on the ground. The children of Israel saw it and said to one another, “What is it?” because they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given us as food. Exodus 16:13-15 NCB
The bread from heaven was a substance so unfamiliar that the people who ate it every day for 40 years simply named it, “what is it ?” And “manna,” from the Hebrew word for this bewilderment, has become a universal idiom ever since for an unexplainably nourishing gift. Now watch as this wanderers’ meal takes us on a circuitous route through God’s Word and the garden with a triad of food for thought.
#1 Jesus is the Bread From Heaven
Jesus captures this centuries-old Sinai Desert history and reveals its purpose all along: to showcase the Savior Jesus as the real bread, the only way to be truly fed, and to display our earth-world’s infusion with heaven’s realm.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:51 KJV
Jesus responded, “The real significance of that Scripture is not that Moses gave you bread from heaven but that my Father is right now offering you bread from heaven, the real bread. The Bread of God came down out of heaven and is giving life to the world.” John 6:33 The Message
The people following Jesus had been handed down the story of Moses, understanding the rugged existence their forefathers endured and their restricted diet as a great and miraculous provision of the past.
[The people replied] “Moses took care of our ancestors who were fed by the miracle of manna every day in the desert, just like the Scripture says, ‘He fed them with bread from heaven.’ John 6:30 TPT
Now Jesus elevates their viewpoint to an eternal one, magnifying the history with spiritual understanding, opening their eyes to see the elements as a picture of on-going, everlasting sustenance in Jesus.
“The truth is,” Jesus said, “Moses didn’t give you the bread of heaven. It’s my Father who offers bread that comes as a dramatic sign from heaven. The bread of God is the One who came out of heaven to give his life to feed the world.” John 6:32-33 TPT
Wow! What a move: to transform history as a real-time descriptor, as a way of preparing people to comprehend the incredible dynamics of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.
#2 Coriander and Craving
Because alliteration is a power tool to plant an object lesson in our minds, let us pause at the mention of coriander, connecting it to the lustful craving rising up in the background of this story despite the people’s bread from heaven provision.
Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving; and the people of Israel also wept again, and said, “O that we had meat to eat!” Numbers 11:4 RSV
How easy it is to cast-aside God’s promise with a strong craving, ugh. The Israelites were promised a new life in a milk-and-honey homeland, and their manna even tasted like honey (Exodus 16:31) as a daily reminder of how sweet and good was God’s life ahead for them. Not to mention their bodies were being blessed with the food of angels! I doubt digestive turmoil or food allergies were an issue.
[God] commanded the skies to open—he opened the windows of heaven— and rained down manna for their food. He gave them bread from heaven! They ate angels’ food! He gave them all they could hold. Psalm 78:23-25 TLB
Yet their minds wandered to more savory tastes—a classic case of FOMO—stirring themselves up into dissatisfied contempt. They abandoned their commitment to God (Exodus 14:31), forgetting His faithful love and mighty power to save, disregarding the One who had just delivered them from bondage.
If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach Matthew 6:25 The Message
The Lenten practice of giving something up—and by something, implying our most-craved thing—finds its roots in this Scripture layering, causing us to reflect on what we are relying on apart from God (Isaiah 45:21, John 15:5), and truly, how we can be snubbing God’s grace and generosity with cravings for short-term fixes.
Incidentally, this craving-complaining situation disintegrated into a massive plague, and the place became known as Kivrot-HaTa’avah, or graves-of-the-craving. There many died because of turning away from the Lord by keeping a stubborn grip on grabbing meat (Numbers 11:34). “Graves-for-the-craving” gives a very graphic picture of where hunger for wrong-living can lead, yikes!
Yet heaven is for overcomers! Overcoming the cravings of the flesh to rely on the Word of God, His instruction and His affirmation, is the big bread lesson. May coriander in your garden stand for the savory life with our Savior, a life of overcoming dead-end cravings.
Growing Coriander
Coriander, Coriandrum sativum, is a versatile herb and spice from Apiaceae (also called Umbelliferae) family. Several of the plants in this family yield tasty flavor in both their leaves and seeds, like dill, fennel, parsley, and celery. However, coriander leaves have a very distinct taste from their seeds; actually, coriander leaves are known by a wholly different name: cilantro. Yet this pair of herb and spice, cilantro and coriander seed (also sold as ground coriander) are from the same plant. Cilantro has a sharp, biting flavor while coriander offers a delicate, subtle citrus taste and scent.
Coriander is a cool season herb, loving the cool mornings of early spring chill. It’s ready for your garden sowing right now! In warmer climate gardens, seeds can also be scattered at the end of fall. Seeds sprout relatively easily by direct sowing in the garden, and soon provide tender leaves ready for salsa or zesty rice dishes. As spring heats up to summer, plants will produce lacy, umbel-patterned, blush pink flowers. From blossoms, seeds will form and you will see for yourself a little glimpse of what bread from heaven looked like in your own garden.
visit the Garden in Delight Plant Guide for more information on growing coriander
#3 See the Elegant Poetry of God’s Word
Behold the way God’s Word works: the history of Israel is speckled with ways to savor the Savior. By calling himself the bread from heaven, Jesus speaks to His power to satisfy and fill us, made more poignant against the backdrop of motives and motions in the Sinai Desert saga.
The story of Israel is a lesson in God’s ways. Psalm 78:5 TPT
Yes, it is a real history, with real people, real complaints, real miracles, real terrain, real coriander and honey. Yet in his inimitable power, God aligned these historical events in His pattern and timing to reveal a spiritual reality and more about Himself—His Son and His Spirit. Jesus teaches us God’s patterning, showing us what to watch for.
But wait, there’s more! Gardeners, we gather together here at Garden in Delight to discover many more instances of His poetic patterning…in plants as diverse as wheat and mulberry trees and lentil stew; in parables of soil and seed, layers of leaves, and feasts to celebrate. God’s Word is a secret garden with no end.
Bread of Heaven Feed Us!
Let us soak in more Scriptures, steeping in this story and marveling at the way the Lord God Almighty moves us in His patterns and rains His heavenly ways on earth.
They asked for meat, and he sent them quail; he satisfied their hunger with manna—bread from heaven. Psalm 105:40 NLT
…All this was done for them so that they would be faithful to keep the ways of God, obeying his laws and following his truths. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Psalm 105:45 TPT
Jesus said to them,” I am the Bread of Life. Come every day to me and you will never be hungry.” John 6:35 TPT
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. Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV
Give us each day our daily bread. Luke 11:3 NIV
Jesus replied, “Let me make this very clear, you came looking for me because I fed you by a miracle, not because you believe in me. Why would you strive for food that is perishable and not be passionate to seek the food of eternal life, which never spoils? I the Son of Man, am ready to give you what matters most, for God the Father has destined me for this purpose.” John 6:26-25 TPT
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. John 4:34 NKJV
They ate and had their fill; he handed them everything they craved on a platter. Psalm 78:29 The Message
Eternal One (to Moses): Look! I will cause bread to rain down from heaven for you, and the people will go out and gather a helping of it each day. I will test them to see if they are willing to live by My instructions. Exodus 16:4 VOICE
Next, the mixed crowd that was with them grew greedy for an easier life; while the people of Isra’el, for their part, also renewed their weeping and said, “If only we had meat to eat!” Numbers 11:4 CJB
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth Isaiah 55:11 LSB
The manna looked like small coriander seeds, and it was pale yellow like gum resin. Numbers 11:7 NLT
The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into loaves. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down. Numbers 11:8-9 NIV
Jesus responded, “Stop your grumbling!” John 6:41 TPT
Still, he spoke on their behalf and the skies opened up; the windows of heaven poured out food, the mercy bread-manna. The grain of grace fell from the clouds. Humans ate angels’ food—the meal of the mighty ones. His grace gave them more than enough! Psalm 78:23-26 TPT
and finally He said to me, “My grace is enough to cover and sustain you. My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 VOICE
Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious everlasting way—the path that brings me back to you. Psalm 139:23-24 TPT
You gave them instructions on how to live well, true teaching, sound rules and commands; You introduced them to your Holy Sabbath; Through your servant Moses you decreed commands, rules, and instruction. You gave bread from heaven for their hunger, you sent water from the rock for their thirst. You told them to enter and take the land, which you promised to give them. Nehemiah 9:13-15 The Message
Worship with a Weekly Loaf
To me, the obvious bread from heaven baking worship was to brush my weekly sourdough loaf with olive oil and ground coriander seed (Numbers 11:8). Was it tasty? Well…ground coriander does not add a noticeable flavor burst, although ironically, perhaps the slight blandness reminds me of what all the complaining was about, lol! Instead, try a spiced honeybutter spread: Mix in proportion 2 T. softened butter, 1 T. honey, and 1/2 tsp ground coriander and enjoy on your daily bread.
Closing Prayer
O Lord, thank you for feeding me—especially when my circumstances are not very nourishing! Holy Spirit, help me understand and practice that feeding my spirit is the priority; may I realize that I don’t need bread on my table as much as I need You. Knead You? May your Words work deep into my mind, my heart, and my soul and take over as a rising yeast (as long as we’re going with bread metaphors!). Infuse my whole being with You: Your mercy, grace, and love, which soothe, satiate, and heal me. How I hope to see my complaining ways die off as I continue to feed on You, O holy Bread From Heaven. May I grow stronger in keeping Your ways, obeying your laws, and following Your truths (Psalm 105:45). Lord, help me see and trust You through the way You purposed Israel’s history to display Your identity as bread from heaven that You have worked through my history, too. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Romans 14:17 The Message
A Lenten Look at Bread is a 7-part series at the crossroads of bread and garden plants in God’s Word. Slicing into bread analogies draws us closer to Lord of the Sabbath, the Word, more life-sustaining than bread, and the Bread of heaven, for starters (yes, there will be sourdough!)—against a background of wheat, barley, coriander, and Israel’s best produce. Taste and see my goodness, the Lord beckons (Psalm 34:8), so we’ll be worshiping with a weekly loaf for hands-on help in grasping who Jesus is and what he has done for us, growing our hearts for a deep embrace of the ultimate metaphor, He is Risen!
Ready to plant coriander? Find more information in the Plant Guide: www.gardenindelight.com/plant-guide/coriander/
Do you love connecting God’s Word to your gardening work and the trees and plants around you? You will love my new book, My Father is the Gardener, Devotions in Botany and Gardening of the Bible, order at this link.
Find coriander in God’s Word for Gardeners Bible, “Lay of the Land,” The Sinai Desert series in Garden Tours, beginning on page a-14
Photo Credits: ©2015-2025 Shelley S. Cramm
CJB notes Scripture quotations taken from the Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern. Copyright © 1998. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Messianic Jewish Publishers, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville, MD 21029. www.messianicjewish.net.
KJV denotes Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version published in 1611, authorized by King James I of England, which is public domain in the United States
LSB denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org
NCB denotes Scripture taken from the SAINT JOSEPH NEW CATHOLIC BIBLE® Copyright © 2019 by Catholic Book Publishing Corp. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
NIV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
NKJV denotes Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
NLT denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
RSV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Message denotes Scripture quotations taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries
TLB denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. The Living Bible, TLB, and the The Living Bible logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers.
TPT denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com
VOICE denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Voice™. Copyright © 2012 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
