Provision

"13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat." - Exodus 16:13-16

There are times in our lives when we struggle. Trials come and we feel as though we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. We might be wondering how we can make it through the day when suddenly a friend stops by to talk or the phone rings or we receive an encouraging text at JUST the right moment. Today I would like to talk about God and his provision for us. He truly DOES supply our every need.

When the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness for those 40 years, one can imagine there wasn't much to eat. Dude. It was a desert! Yet, when God heard the cries of His people, God provided manna for them to eat. Every day.

God provides for us as well - we who wander through this "wilderness" which WE live in. God has provided us with different skills and abilities with which we earn a living. Through those skills and abilities God gives us the means to put "manna" on our tables each and every day. What a blessing!

God provides earthly relationships in the form of friends and family. God understands the need for us to have companionship so God provides.

"18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone;" - Genesis 2:18

Still, despite God's provision, we always whine and complain that we don't have enough. Some of the Israelites who gathered the manna in the desert, gathered more than they needed, intending to save some for the following day. But God wanted them to depend on Him for their provision so he made the manna spoil over night. Where has that dependence on God gone in our lives?

When we humans continue to sin, despite the seemingly endless warnings from God, He STILL provided a means for us to join him in heaven - through our belief in the atoning sacrifice of His Son for us.

Even after Jesus ascended into heaven He promised to provide us with a helper. Someone to keep us stay on the right path.

"15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." - John 15:16

God continues to provide, despite our unwillingness to repent. We continue to sin against a Holy God who has provided SO much for us. Even those of us who profess to be believers and followers of Jesus still slip up and make mistakes despite our willingness not to. Even Paul screwed up from time to time.

"15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." - Romans 7:15

Even in our sin, God still provides for us through his gift of grace.

God provides so much for us. He gives us strength when we are weak, He provides courage when we become afraid. And he provides a means of eternal life even though we are deserving of death according to His laws.

My brothers and sisters, how can we keep from falling to our knees throughout the day as we see all the gifts God has rained down on us from above, like manna.

As we gather the gifts God provides for us, let us stop and give thanks for that provision. For without God and His mercy we are just wanderers in the wilderness. But WITH God, we shall be fed, our clothes shall never wear out and we will live in the house of The Lord - forever! :)

"4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple." - Psalm 27:4

[This post is dedicated to two women that God has provided in my life - my loving wife who, like God, extends love and grace to this lowly sinner. And to my sister-in-Christ, my incredibly amazing friend, who also exhibits equal doses of grace and forgiveness. I love you both, as Christ loves the church. Thank you Lord for your provision.]