Provision

Thoughts have been on provision this morning. It started with a quote from my old FBC youth pastor:

"God created us to have needs, not counting them as sinful or selfish. Without them, we'd have no way of knowing our need for God or how much He loves us." -Chad Bles

After this, he posted another from Spurgeon:

What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust Him for your soul, and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, He has never fainted under their weight. -Spurgeon

I just wanted to start by pulling some examples of God's provision from scripture:
Genesis 22:8
Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

Deuteronomy 11:15
I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.

2 Samuel 7:10
And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning

1 Kings 8:21
I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our fathers when he brought them out of Egypt.

Job 10:12
You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit.

Psalm 111:5
He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

These are just a few examples. Often times provision is seen after a trial of faith, like with Abraham. Provision can also be noted after periods of trials and suffering. I love the last Psalm, "He remembers His covenant forever." The Lord is indeed faithful! Let's also look at God's provision for Jonah:

Jonah 1:17
But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 4:6
Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine.

Jonah 4:7
But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered.

Jonah 4:8
When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."

Hmm... So it is evident that the Lord's provision might not always come in an expected way, it also might not come in a way that we think is best (Jonah was so miserable he wanted to die). The truth is that we can trust in His provision and His goodness and His sovereignty! He has the big picture, even if all we can see is a glimpse, God knows, and He is good!

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations. -Isaiah 61