As the pages of our lives turn, each chapter filled with its own set of triumphs and trials, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of the moment. Just a few weeks ago, I shared reflections on how God is in the business of making all things new, drawing from personal experiences and the timeless truths of scripture. Today, I stand in awe of the ways in which this renewal has manifested in my life since then—securing a new job, the removal of my cast following a fractured wrist, and the gradual (ongoing) journey of shedding my extra weight. Each of these milestones, though varied in their nature, speak to a common thread: God's unwavering provision.
However, embracing God's provision requires a faith that is both nurtured and revisited daily. It's not enough to simply acknowledge His ability to provide; we must actively trust in it, drawing from the well of faith with a heart that is both thirsty for reassurance and overflowing with gratitude.
A Testament of Provision
The Bible is replete with examples of God's provision, each story a testament to His attentiveness to our needs and His power to meet them, often in ways we least expect. Here are just a few examples.
- Jehovah Jireh and Abraham: In a moment of profound faith and obedience, Abraham was tested to sacrifice his son, Isaac, only to be stopped by God at the last moment. God then provided a ram as a substitute for the sacrifice on Mount Moriah. Abraham named that place Jehovah Jireh, meaning "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14). This story not only illustrates God's provision but also His foresight and faithfulness in meeting our deepest needs. It also shows us Abraham's unwavering faith and dedication to God, since it appears that he was willing (although reluctantly) to sacrifice the son of God's promise to him since it seemed to him that that was what God was expecting from him. Interestingly, God would not have been able to show Himself as the Lord Who Will Provide if Abraham had not demonstrated his absolute trust in God.
- Manna, Quail, and Water in the Desert: When the Israelites found themselves wandering in the desert, their futures uncertain and their stomachs empty, they cried out to God. He responded by raining down manna from heaven (Exodus 16:4), providing quail for meat (Exodus 16:13), and bringing forth water from a rock (Exodus 17:6). This miraculous provision was not just about satisfying physical hunger; it was a lesson in daily dependence on God's provision. Not only that, but since the manna would turn rotten the next day if too much was collected (except when preparing for the sabbath), it also taught us that we need to trust God today that He will provide for us tomorrow.
- The Gift of Jesus: In a time of political turmoil and spiritual longing, the people yearned for a leader to free them from Roman oppression. God provided Jesus—His Son—to do just that. But not in the way they expected. They wanted a political revolutionary, but what God gave them (and us) is a way to bring heaven to Earth day by day, enabling us to live above our circumstances even as we endure them. In the same way, the Jewish people of Jesus's time wanted to know the magical formula that would enable them to be accepted by God, but what He gave us is a path to God Himself, the ultimate sacrifice for our sins that allows us to come into His presence. This act of provision went so far beyond immediate expectations or understanding that many people missed it. Sadly, many still miss it today. But God still offers it again and again, trying lovingly and desperately to address the deepest need of humanity: reconciliation with God, to be fully known and yet still be fully loved.
Drawing from the Well of Faith
As we reflect on these stories, and as I ponder my own recent experiences, it's clear that God's provision is not always about granting us our desires on our timeline. Rather, it's about meeting our deepest needs in His perfect timing. The journey from a fractured wrist to healing, from joblessness to employment, and from weight gain to health is not just a series of personal victories. It's a narrative of faith, a reminder that when we draw near to God, trusting in His provision, He meets us where we are.
Returning daily—or even more frequently—to the well of faith is not an admission of weakness; it's an act of strength. It's acknowledging that our understanding is limited, but our trust in God is limitless, bound only by our own weakness and lack of trust. In moments of doubt or when the path ahead seems unclear and/or overwhelming, let's return our attention to Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Who Will Provide. Just as He provided for the Israelites in the desert, offered salvation through Jesus, and intervened in Abraham's test of faith, He continues to provide for us in ways both seen and unseen. God may not always make sense to us, but as the pastor at church this morning pointed out, that's why they call it faith.
As we journey into the week before us, let us do so with hearts full of faith, eyes open to the ways God is working in our lives, and a spirit ready to declare, just as Abraham did on Mount Moriah, "The Lord will provide." May we find comfort in the knowledge that our needs are known, our cries are heard, and our faith is rewarded by the One who makes all things new.
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