09/22/2025
Manna Monday!
Welcome to our very first Theology Through Taste series! While working on my dissertation, I’ve been exploring biblical foodways and the role of food in scripture, which has inspired me to share some of the symbolic foods woven into the biblical narrative.
Let’s begin with what I like to call the “God-gluten” sprinkled in Genesis. At the Oxford Food Symposium, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Weingarten present on a new translation of the Midrashim. In it, God is described as kneading Adam like dough during creation.
This image is deeply symbolic—bread itself carries immense weight in scripture, being mentioned nearly 500 times. And this is not the only place we see God’s forming hands at work. In Isaiah, we’re reminded that God forms each of us, shaping us with intention and care.
I’m reminded of a fascinating study where multiple bakers were given the same sourdough starter, yet every loaf came out different. Each baker’s unique touch left its imprint on the bread.
In the same way, we are all uniquely formed—each of us bearing the mark of God’s creative hand. And that uniqueness is not just intentional, it’s meant to be loved.
