The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.

— Exodus 12:39

Perhaps you have read or heard of The Lord of the Rings stories by J.R.R. Tolkien. Maybe you have also seen the ­movies. In these stories, a group of friends takes a long journey to destroy a magic ring that is packed with evil power. Their journey is difficult and dangerous.

To sustain them on their journey, the friends are given a special food called lembas, also described as “waybread.” It is simple and compact, and it supplies more energy than the travelers would expect.

When the Israelites were about to leave Egypt, God told them to make unleavened bread. This bread was made without yeast so that the people would not have to wait for it to rise. It was flat and compact, and it would give them energy for their long journey ahead. The uniqueness of this bread would continue to remind the people that God would take care of them.

These stories remind me of the Lord’s Supper. The food and drink are very simple, but they remind us of God’s power, which is far greater than we might expect. Jesus told us to eat this meal in memory of him because we need spiritual sustenance for the journey of the Christian life, which can be difficult and dangerous. This meal strengthens us spiritually, reminding us that God is near and will see us through.

Lord, you know that our life journey can be dangerous. Thank you for drawing near to us and sustaining us. Amen.