How seriously do we take God’s promise to provide? What are we expecting to receive through this provision? How does he make it happen? Does he expect anything from us in this process?
Besides the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ – the only means by which salvation comes, God’s promise to provide is probably the most reassuring promise he gives. But what do we try to hold him to when we claim that promise? Nowhere is this promise necessarily tied to riches or materialistic gains. God promises to provide what we need. And depending on who we are and what particular season of life we are in, our needs could differ greatly.
And by what means will God provide for us? Obviously he is the Almighty God and can provide for us in any way he chooses. If he wanted to, he could drop our particular need right down from the sky into our laps. But in most cases, he chooses to provide for us through other people. People that follow the prompting of the Spirit and reach out to those in need. People that faithfully give, trusting God to use their gifts mightily.
There are countless stories in the Bible of God providing for his people. There are countless more stories around us proving that God still provides. I encourage you to seek these stories out as well as to share your own stories of God’s provision. Stories like these are incredibly faith-building!
And right along with these stories are the stories of the faithful that have been used by God to meet the needs of others. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be used by God! Give with all of your heart. Give as you feel the Spirit leading you to do. Give your money. Give your time. Give your talents. After all, as a child of God we are only stewards of the earthly things we receive. They belong to God, and he loans them to us so that they can be fed back into His Kingdom…for His glory!
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God provided food for sustenance…
To the Israelites in the wilderness – But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. (Exodus 16:18 NLT)
To Elijah in his loneliness and despair – Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” (1 Kings 19:7 NLT)
God provided protection…
The Israelites on their way to the promised land…“See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. (Exodus 23:20 NLT)
David as he fled from King Saul…my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. (2 Samuel 22:3 NLT)
Jeremiah and the prophets as they went out with His message…And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 1:8 NLT)
God provided a better story…
For Joseph when he was left to die – And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you…“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. (Genesis 45:5, 8 NIV)
For Moses when he was left as a baby – Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10 NLT)
For Paul when he was conspirator – You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it…But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him (Galatians 1:13, 15 NLT)
