He's Faithful

God has provided.

God is providing.

God will provide

(Ge 22:8; Jer 29:11; Php4:19)

Manna

The state of life I’m in now is a situation I’ve likened to the children of Israel being provided bread from heaven in Exodus 16:4.  My needs aren’t being provided in a way I’d like them to be –which admittedly is out of pride.  But I’m also thankful that God is blessing me with my daily bread (Php 4:19).  I understand the importance of worshipping God joyfully, regardless of how I’m being blessed.  So, the test for me (and many of us, I’m sure) is will I continue to trust God at his word and bless his name, no matter how things look (v.4)?  (I’m reminded of my own words in a previous blog post after typing that statement.)  God despises the proud, so in his love for us, he puts us in humbling situations –not to ever harm us, but in order to keep us under his loving protection and so that we may recognize and glorify him, and I’m thankful for it (Pr 3:12; 16:5). 

Also, like Israel, I’ve stepped out on faith trusting in God according to his word, and I’ve looked at my past situation compared to the one I’m currently in, and I’ve sometimes thought that things were better.  But of course, like Israel, I also groaned when I was in ‘Egypt’ (Ex 16:3). 

Not to justify it, but I can honestly say that my grumbling is not in doubt of God and his plan for me, nor is it motivated by ungratefulness, but it’s out of sheer impatience (Jer 29:11).  I’m constantly needing lessons in patience, which is just God perfecting me, and shaping me to look more like him, because love is patient and God is love (1 Co 13:4; 1 Jn 4:8). 

So, I ask that you all pray that we all learn to be content (-although never settling.  I’m convinced that the Lord has not called us to accept mediocrity.), and stand on God’s promise that he will provide for us as over comers through Jesus Christ (Php 4:11, 19; Rev 2:17).  And also pray that we be more patient as God works it all out.

All My Fountains Are In You

The Lord provides for us all, but how much more when we trust in him.  As a result of his faith, Abraham came to know God as his provider after he obediently and faithfully laid his only son on an alter of sacrifice, and was supplied with a ram in a bush (Gen 22:1-13).  Abraham had earlier asserted that ‘God himself will provide the lamb’, and he was later able to confirm that the Lord would, no doubt, provide (calling him Yahweh-yireh or Jehovah-jireh in Hebrew; Gen 22: 8, 14).  Surely God has rewarded Abraham for his faith, and blessed him with (spiritual) descendants as numerous as stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore (Gen 22:17-18; Gal 3:29).  Although we may not be Father Abraham, similar blessing are available to those who trust in God.   

We need to constantly be reminded that nothing is impossible for God.  Forget the former things; don’t dwell on the past.  Watch God do a new thing (Isa 43:19-19)!  The Lord is a provider in the desert, in the wasteland.  He gives drink to his people, his chosen, the people he formed for himself that they may proclaim his praise (Isa 43:20-21)!  So, go ahead and praise him in advance having faith that he will provide for you!  (That is, if you are his own.)

God is the source, and everything else is merely a resource.  Trust in the source!  David recognized God as the source of all life by referring to him as his fountain (Ps 36:9; 87:7).  Jesus speaks about the futility of worrying, reminding us that the Lord feeds the birds that do not reap or store, dresses lilies better than Solomon ever was, and even provides for the pagan.  But we are to seek God’s kingdom first, and everything else is guaranteed to fall into place (Mt 6:25-34).   Believe, trust, hope in his sustaining and powerful word (Heb 1:3).