The God Who Comes Through...

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus - Philippians 4:19

Have you ever gone through a time of complete dependence on God for your material needs? Perhaps you lost a job and could not generate income on your own. Perhaps you got sick and could not work. There are circumstances in our lives that can put us in this place.

My rantings are seldom the fruit of reading just scripture. This was no exception. My devotions usually have me in the Old Testament Pentateuch, the Prophets, Wisdom (Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs) and the New Testament. I experience a spiritual mashable if you will. Today God's supply took on real meaning as I read about the exploits of Israel with the principle that Paul espouses above.

So, when God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt through the desolate desert (is there any other kind?), they had no ability to provide for themselves. God met their needs supernaturally each day by providing manna from Heaven. Each day they would awake to one day's portion of what they needed.

This was a season in their lives. It made a reality out of their dependence on God and the faithfulness of God as their personal provider. Talk about a principle brought home.

Now, eventually, they entered the Promised Land. When they did, God changed the rules. The Father's "supernatural provision" was no longer required. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan - Josh. 5:12. In both cases God was the provider of the need.

For most of us, we derive our necessities of life through our work. Just like the animal kingdom we are commanded to go out and gather what God has already provided. We may not see it that way but it is part of the provisions of a life of faith. It is a process of participation in what God has already provided. Because it becomes second nature to us, commonplace, it often appears it is fully on our shoulders to make it happen. Transversely, it appears it is all up to God at other times. In either case we must realize that the Lord is our provider; the job is only an instrument of His provision. He requires our involvement in either case.

You may say to yourself, My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today - Deuteronomy 8:17-18.

I'm going to make this simple today. There is no great pull apart exegesis and apologetic. Here's what you and I need to do today: Acknowledge the Lord as the provider of every need you have today. He is a faithful provider.

And I will remain...forever and a day...

InHISgrip,
~J~