In Deuteronomy chapter 28 God tells Israel, the covenant people of God, the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience to their covenant with Him. I was struck by two verses, Deuteronomy 28:5 and 28:17:
5 בָּר֥וּךְ טַנְאֲךָ֖ וּמִשְׁאַרְתֶּֽךָ
of-your-Kneading-trough-and of-your-basket is-being-blessed
Deuteronomy 28:5 (DCB) “Blessed is your cornicopia and your kneading trough.”
17 אָר֥וּר טַנְאֲךָ֖ וּמִשְׁאַרְתֶּֽךָ
of-your-Kneading-trough-and of-your-basket is-being-cursed
Deuteronomy 28:17 (DCB) “Cursed is your cornicopia and your kneading trough.”
He promises that those faithful to him will experience an abundant basket and fully risen bread, but those who are unfaithful will be cursed with an empty basket and unleavened bread (dead yeast).
When I traveled to Israel I remember our guide commenting about how matzah upset his stomach, saying emphatically that it was not good stuff to eat. At the time he said it in a humorous way, so I thought he was joking. This verse drove home the point that unleavened bread, matzah, is in fact a curse! Suddenly it all made sense. The festival of “unleavened” bread, the Passover, commemorates a time when the people of God were cursed to live in slavery in Egypt. Matzah is the bread of affliction. When the Jews eliminate all leaven they are subjecting themselves to hardship so that they never forget to be grateful for God’s deliverance from bondage.
Perhaps this is the origin of the tradition of Christian fasting in the season leading up to Easter (lent). Through fasting we remind ourselves to be grateful for the deliverance from our slavery to sin that Jesus purchased on the cross as our Passover Lamb. “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
I love crusty, risen bread. I am glad to see that God’s word confirms that it is a blessing of God.
Atheist to Elder 