God’s Provision

This past week in The Story we got to look at God’s messengers, the prophets. We focused specifically on the life of Elijah.

Being a prophet of God is not easy. While there were times when Elijah was able to share some great and encouraging words from God, there was also a number of times when he had to bring some difficult news to Kings and Queens. We find one of those challenging times in 1 Kings 17. In verse 1 it says, “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t seem like an encouraging word. It wouldn’t make me very happy if I was the King, and it didn’t make King Ahab very happy. Although times were tough for King Ahab, God provided for Elijah. He told Elijah to head east and that he would taken care of. God led Elijah to brook where he would have water to drink and God had ravens bring him food (verses 2-4).

The Lord took care of Elijah in this situation, and God’s provision for Elijah was constant throughout his life. And the great news is that God promises to be our provision as well over the course of our lives.

• Psalms 84:11 – “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
• Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
• Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
• Numbers 23:19 – “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

Over the course of the Bible, we watch God provide and He provides for us daily as well. But God’s provisions are not just shown throughout the stories in the Bible, they happen still today.

When I was talking with the staff, Pat Furgerson said he has also had an experience where God provided unexpectedly. Many years ago Pat needed to travel urgently, but didn’t know how he’d be able to afford a plane ticket. God prompted someone to offer him the ticket without Pat even sharing the need. Personally, I remember a time when I had some extra expenses and I had no idea where I was going to get the money to pay those bills. So I prayed and God provided just over the amount of money I needed. I didn’t do anything for money other than pray.

God’s provides for us daily. Maybe not as dramatically as Elijah, but in many ways. How have you seen God’s provision in your life?

Share your encouraging story below so we may all be encouraged!