Romans 8:28 ESV
Matthew 12:1-2 (Disciples pulled grain on the Sabbath)
Matthew 12:3-4 ESV
I Samuel 21:1-5 (Holy Bread)
I Samuel 21:6 ESV
Psalm 46:1 (God is refuge and strength)
The word provision is interesting. One definition for ’ProVision’ is to ‘prepare before’.
God always us prepares BEFORE.
I honestly believe that the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 8:28 are always ALWAYS true. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
I’ve seen and witnessed God giving good from bad over and over again in my lifetime.
A few years ago I had a very bad thing happen. I don’t need to tell you what that bad thing was, but I will tell you that it broke my heart. I cried a million tears. I sat broken before God.
While I had been hurt before, it came slowly and was expected.
When it happened before, I knew it was coming.
This time, I didn’t see it coming. I was blind-sided. One day everything was fine and the next day the bottom dropped out.
My whole life changed before my eyes.
After that day I knew things would never be the same again.
Looking back I now know that God knew. God is never blind-sided.
At that time I knew that someday somehow God would use my pain and sorrow for His good. While I haven’t completely seen the result of God’s goodness, I have noticed my relationship with God has significantly changed.
Slowly but surely I have learned to rely on God more.
Through my grief, each day I turned to God. Each time I cried I knew God was counting my tears. See, God counts our sorrows. God doesn’t forget anything.
Even in grief, God provides and the provision of God is intentional and complete.
God’s provision is abundant and purposeful.
Nothing is wasted.
In Matthew 12:1-2 Jesus and His disciples were walking through the grain fields and the disciples were hungry so they pulled the grain from the stalk and ate. The Pharisees saw them and reminded Jesus what His disciples were doing was not okay because it was the Sabbath. It was unlawful to work on the Sabbath (from 6 p.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Saturday).
In Matthew 12:3-4 Jesus said, “to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?”
Jesus’ comeback line to the Pharisees was very interesting.
He asked the Pharisees if they ‘forgot’ that King David went to the priest to obtain bread for his men. The priest told him they had no common bread but they had holy bread (I Samuel 21:1-5).
We learn in I Samuel 21:6, “So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.”
Touche’.
The Pharisees were well known for their strict adherence to the Old Testament scripture. They studied all their lives memorizing scripture.
Now, this man from Nazareth, the son of a mere carpenter tells THEM, ‘Oh, did you forget about the time David was given Holy Bread for his men…by the PRIESTS?’
That had to be quite a moment. It was a moment among many moments. The Pharisees were always trying to trip Jesus up.
They were constantly ‘at’ Him.
Over and over again they tried to chip away at Him. Each time Jesus reminded them that God does provide and we accept the provision we are given.
While I didn’t expect my life to change, gradually I learned to rely on God for the life I was given. Each day I looked to God for hope and encouragement. See, God’s provision comes in myriad of ways. Sometimes we need physical bread and other times we need to be reminded that the path God has for us is right and true. God will provide everything we need.
God provided the bread that David and his men needed.
Jesus was showing His disciples that God will provide for their every need.
God is teaching me that even though life will not be exactly as I expected, I can count on Him.
God is my refuge and strength, an very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
VERY present. God is very present in our lives. Day and night, night and day God is our refuge and strength.
God provides…
Spiritual Practice: Provision
Think of ways God has provided for you. Tell God what you need today.
In God, Deborah
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