“Miracle of Provision”
When we talk about provision we usually go to our finances right? Where we get to be in America cash is what it’s all about…everything cost something & here we believe that if we pull up our bootstraps & put our head to the grindstone we can accumulate enough cash to get whatever we desire. But what if that’s not enough? What if having everything materially still leaves you empty? That’s where the Miracle of Provision takes shape!
Exodus 16:1-5, 13-21, 27-30, 35 Philippians 4:19
- God Provides IN HIS TIMING NOT OURS (v.1-5)
- You can’t make this stuff up…Israel started in the Desert of Sin between Elim (which means the place of palms) and Sinai (where the Law (Ten Commandments) were given). This is how God worked Egypt (sin) out of the Israelites! They thought they knew what they needed in wanting to go back to Egypt but God provided for their needs not their wants
- All of us start here where Israel is! We have departed the Law and are in search of God’s Promise! The difference is whether or not we believe in God’s provision of His only Son as the way to life! Yet somewhere along the way we get angry with God if we don’t get what we want when we want. Easy to point out folly but all of us are human & have been here or are currently here in at least one area of our life.
- God Provides ABUNDANTLY FOR ALL OUR NEEDS (v.13-21)
- God provides for Israel here bread in the AM and quail in the PM! Yet, some do not heed the words of the Lord that they should only gather enough to last for a day because what they have today will be gone tomorrow and tomorrow will provide for itself as God intends! And yet the Lord provided enough for them all that they were filled daily!
- This is where we can get stuck! We see the blessings God has given us—and yet we want more! God is teaching us all that what we have today can/will be gone tomorrow and all we have to do is trust Him for provision and it will come! This doesn’t mean we don’t work hard…it means our hard work is byproduct of our complete dependence that God will provide for all of our needs (not our wants)
- God Provides through HIS GRACE not OUR MERIT (v. 27-30,35)
- Israel has some that listen to God’s instruction and some that don’t…but does it stop God from providing? NO! God still provided as He promised so that His plan would be fulfilled!
- This is where it’s hard for us as followers of Christ to sit at times! We see others blessed while it seems that they are disobedient and we are still waiting…that’s where we have to remember God’s grace saved us not our works! And if God in is mercy & grace gave us eternal life through the provision of His Son…will he not provide what we need?
Take Away:
List some of your needs and some of your wants. What is the main difference between the two?
How have you seen God guide you to a place where He also provided for you?
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Tyler West 