The wilderness journey of Israel from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land is not simply a part of biblical history. It is like our journey as Christians in the wilderness of this life as we look forward to the Promised Land of heaven and the glory to come. The former is a type of the latter (1 Cor. 10: 6, 11).

Christ was with the Israelites in the wilderness. He fed them manna from heaven. He gave them water from the rock. They “all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink” (1 Cor. 10:3-4). Paul reminds the church at Corinth, and he reminds us, that Jesus Christ our Lord is with us in the wilderness trek of this life.

The tokens of Christ’s presence in the wilderness were not only physical food and drink but also spiritual food and drink. God gave the church of old manna. Jesus challenged the Jews of His day, “It is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger” (John 6:32-35).

God also gave water from the rock. The Apostle Paul teaches, “They were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4). Jesus comments on the significance of the water He gives. “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:14). God nourished His church of old with spiritual food and drink.

The church of today also has tokens of Christ’s presence. The Israelites were “baptized into Moses” (1 Cor. 10:2). We begin our Christian pilgrimage with baptism into the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:4). Revealing His presence, God gave the church of old food and drink. As we live and work in this life, awaiting our heavenly rest, Christ also nourishes us. One way He does so is in the Lord’s supper. Having spoken of Israel, Paul asks the church at Corinth, “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16).

When we eat the bread and drink from the cup in communion, Christ reaffirms His covenant promise to walk with us. He once again testifies to us that He ransoms us from bondage to sin and death. Christ also feeds us and gives us strength for life’s arduous journey.

We again see the typological connection with the people of Israel in the wilderness. Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:53-54, 58).

When we eat the bread and drink from the cup in communion, God assures us we participate in the penalty paid by Christ, the righteousness given by Christ, and life of grace empowered by Christ. This is food and drink for our souls.