Part 4 - Israel's Wandering - To be Fed With Angel Food

Israel's Wilderness Wandering - Lessons Beyond Space and Time

I've mentioned Israel's special condition and provision during the wilderness wandering, which was notable for the many unique and miraculous features. Why were they fed manna from heaven and given water from the rock to drink? The Lord could have had the whole event catered, or done anything else He wanted to do, but what He chose to do is meaningful and necessary both for our instruction and as an example. The account is a display of His care for people who have been made fit for dwelling in a super-earthly environment that exists outside this space-time domain.

10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. 6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:1-6

For almost the entire time they were in the wilderness they ate spiritual food and drank spiritual water. If we take that literally, we have to consider how it was that a physical body could eat and drink spiritual food? Something very special was going on in that peculiar realm that they had passed over into as through a stargate. They were largely sustained in this way until they were about to cross over the Jordan.

The sons of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. ~ Exodus 16:35

12 He wrought wonders before their fathers
In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through,
And He made the waters stand up like a heap.
14 Then He led them with the cloud by day
And all the night with a light of fire.
15 He split the rocks in the wilderness
And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths.
16 He brought forth streams also from the rock
And caused waters to run down like rivers.
...
23 Yet He commanded the clouds above
And opened the doors of heaven;
24 He rained down manna upon them to eat
And gave them food from heaven.
25 Man did eat the bread of angels;
He sent them food in abundance. ~ Psalm 78:12-16, 23-25

I recommend reading Joshua 5 for more detail about the provision. While you're there, give due attention to how circumcision had been suspended. Why? Think about it. Circumcision has to do with a covenant that relates to the flesh. This kind of flesh like you and I have. For them, it wasn't necessary. It speaks of a condition or state where no such covenant or cutting of flesh was necessary or applicable. Did the former kind of flesh no longer exist in those who were born during that season? Certainly not in type. They ate the food of angels, which was fit for angel flesh, for those who inhabited heavenly domains.

Have you considered 1 Corinthians 15 and the kinds of bodies fitted to different domains? All flesh is not the same flesh. Baptism and resurrection are very closely related, and with the baptism of this people in the sea and in the cloud there is also a resurrection component that should be given fair consideration. We're invited to compare their flesh in the wandering to that of their resurrection bodies to consider the similitude.

These people had become known as Hebrews, a word that derives from a root meaning, “to cross over, to cross over a boundary.” Their very identity forever connected them in most minds with the miraculous exodus. In whatever way you're used to thinking about that, try to incorporate insight into how they were actually transformed through the experience in preparation for receiving their promised land. When the great Yobel-Jubilee comes and descendants of Jacob receive an enduring inheritance in the land, it will have come through a transformative action not unlike what transpired in the desert wilderness when their forbears had been baptized into Moses.

How special was their condition after receiving such provision? When Moses died at the age of 120, he was still quite robust.

5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows his burial place to this day. 7 Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated. ~ Deuteronomy 34:5-7

The expected effect of aging was not apparent because time did not have the usual impact. Note, 120 years is 12 x 10.

Consider Caleb's testimony when claiming his inheritance in the promised land.

10 Now behold, the Lord has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today. 11 I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. ~ Joshua 14:10-11

It's called to our attention because it was beyond any reasonable expectation.

Here's a report of the exceptional condition of the people upon their departure from Egypt.

Then He brought them out with silver and gold, and among His tribes there was not one who stumbled. ~ Psalm 105:37

At the institution of Pesah, the sign of the blood of the sacrificed lamb on the doorway spared the occupants from the plague of the firstborn. The time language in this account is worth pointing out.

10 And you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire. 11 Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the Lord’s Passover. 12 For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. ~ Exodus 12:10-13

Note the time numbered verse 12 in Exodus 12: The destruction was according to the appointed time, on that night, which was about midnight (Ex. 11:4). We call that 12 O'Clock. The time number. They ate the lamb in haste with their clothes and sandals on, ready to travel at a moment's notice. Haste - with urgency, with heightened observation of the passing of time.

While on their lengthy journey their apparel did not wear out.

I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot. ~ Deuteronomy 29:5

Garments represent bodies that are are suitable for specific dimensional realms. Their's were, for that season, everlasting. Egypt had been a type of heaven, and Egyptian garments are heavenly garments that are not subject to decay over time.

The children received special garments.

21 I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians. ~ Exodus 3:21-22

It was those who were specially clothed with the Egyptian garments that survived the journey. With the exception of Joshua and Caleb, every single adult died in the wilderness, everyone above the age of 20. By making age the criteria, this also puts emphasis on the time factor.

The example of the wilderness wandering illustrates a supernatural provision for a people granted a season where they subsisted outside normal space-time. Why would such a thing be necessary? According to the model, for salvation in the midst of warring between God's people and their enemies, where multidimensional domains are involved. For the preparation of a people for grants of promised inheritance. For necessary resets. Interdimensional transits and supernatural provision have been and will be a reality. This is not just some speculative fantasy. Space-time arks are a reality. As demonstrated, one or more seasons of dwelling in super-earthly environments outside this space-time domain are coming.