The Bread of Affliction in the Bible

“Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste—” Deuteronomy 16: 3a

This verse and the surrounding passage was an instruction to the Israelites on how to celebrate the Passover. To read the text for context, click here.

The Bread of Affliction in the Bible

In this verse, unleavened bread is called the Bread of Affliction. Leaven represents sin and wickedness (I Corinthians 5:8). And if we endeavor to live lives without leaven or wickedness, we will experience affliction.

“The righteous person may have many troubles,
    but the Lord delivers him from them all” Psalm 34:19.

And Moses “chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” Hebrews 11: 25. 

The narrow path that leads to life (Mathew 7: 13, 14) is literally a path of affliction, trouble and suffering tribulation (Stong’s Bible Concordance).

The Gate of Groaning

And the gate that leads to it is a gate of groaning (Strong’s Bible Concordance). So, if we are going to get through this gate, it will be with difficulty.

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” 2 Timothy 3:12.

There is a definite connection between righteousness and affliction. This is partly because of the persecution that goes along with a righteous life.

I think it’s also because righteousness has the seeds of affliction in it.

Doing what’s right often involves loss or harm or pain. And unless God intervenes in our behalf, this will, in fact, be the case.

To do the right thing in the face of what seems like certain harm or loss is an affliction. We must trust God to intervene in our behalf.

The Pursuit of Righteousness and Affliction in the Bible

But faith and trust don’t come naturally to us carnal earth-dwellers. So, we will probably experience some degree of stress and affliction in our pursuit of righteousness.

Giving money away when you don’t make enough to pay the bills as it is, is a good example. If God doesn’t intervene in some supernatural way, our giving will result in greater shortfalls. And increase our lack.

We must trust God to undertake for us. But again, this doesn’t come easily or naturally to us mortals. It’s a testing of our faith. Or a trial. Or an affliction.

Another good example is the mandate to love our enemies (Mathew 5: 43-48). If you’ve been deeply hurt, you know it’s nearly impossible just to forgive them.

But Jesus insists not only that we forgive those who’ve hurt us, but also that we love and do good to them (see passage above).

This is an affliction, because it goes against our natural human desire for justice and revenge. And because it doesn’t come easily or naturally.

A Path Is Temporary

The path of righteousness is indeed a path of affliction. But we must remember that it is a path.

This implies there is a permanent destination. And the path is temporary, since it only brings us to the destination. And the destination is life. Both in the here and now and in the hereafter.

The broad path of sin, on the other hand is spacious and broad (Mathew 7: 13, 14). And does not involve affliction. But it too is temporary. and leads to the permanent destination of destruction. Both in the here and now and in the hereafter.

To live the Christian life, to say no to sin, to meeting our own needs and taking care of ourselves involves death.

And this is an affliction. Ah, but the destination!

For more content related to The Bread of Affliction in the Bible, see Turning from Sin to Find Healing.