The God Who Provides and Supplies
"And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there...Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” - 1 Kings 17:4,8
O how generous is our loving Father in heaven! God not only gives us our life, breath, and length of days but He supplies us with His gracious provision to meet the demands of life each day. He knows what we need...when we need it...and how to meet those needs in a way that builds a testimony to HIs great Name!
As we pray, "Lord, give us this day our daily bread", may we trust that He will not only provide for us but will often do so in the most unlikely of ways.
In the case of Elijah during a time of great famine, He chose to feed him through a group of unclean birds called ravens that are literally referred to as "unkindnesses" when they are together. Ravens are known in most cultures to be a symbol of death and they even feed on death as well. They know how to survive in the wild by taking food wherever they find it and yet God uses them to bountifully provide for His servant by supplying bread and meat in their mouths. Ravens are so determined to find food that this was the first bird that Noah sent out from the ark to let him know if there were any signs of life. And now God is saving the life of His weary prophet through these unlikely scavenger ravens. Imagine that!
Then, the LORD provided for Elijah once again through the life of a poor widow who was barely able to survive with her son. She thought she was going to die at any day and that she was going to have one final meal with her son. But Elijah gave her a promise from God that she will have enough provision until the famine ends IF she will simply take him at his word and provide a cake for him to eat. She is in a desperate place herself but she chooses to act in faith and discovers that she could not outgive God...and neither can we!
May we know today that we are recipients of the greatest of grace, and grace upon grace, as the generous hand of God supplies our every need and gives to us what we could never deserve or earn. Just stop and look around you and see how much provision is around you in the very room you find yourself in. Everything around you is God's generous provision that declares to us that we are truly loved, cared for, and provided for.
David says, "I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed" (Psalm 37:25-26). James puts it this way in his epistle, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17)
HEART WORK...
Have you noticed that every day you wake up, you have a new set of needs and a new set of challenges? You need to come to God with open hands and an open heart before an open heaven. You may have been full yesterday but you will find you will still be hungry at some point today. You may have felt restful yesterday but you may feel tired and weary today. One day you may be joyful, and another day you may be sorrowful. Who can know what each new day will bring forth?
Since each new day has its own set of needs and trials and tests, Jesus taught us to ask for our daily bread. He wants us to see His provision one day at a time. Therefore, He says, "...do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matt. 6:34). Will you trust Him today for the grace that He has promised to supply to you? Ask and believe dear saint...and you will receive!