Are your eyes on the supply or the Supplier?When Isaac asked his father, "Where is the lamb?", Abraham answered, "The Lord will provide himself a lamb" (Gen. 22:8). Moments later he retrieved a ram from the thicket and offered it instead of his son ...
And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh ... (Gen 22:14).The literal meaning of the Hebrew name Jehovah-jireh is "the Lord who sees." From the context of Gen. 22, it embodies the idea of the "the Lord who provides." He provides so completely because He "sees" so completely what is needed.
From the pen of Paul we read ...
And with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs (Phil 4:19, Today's English Version).But God's promise to supply does not preclude our participation. Indeed, in most instances God's promise to provide is premised upon man's obedient response.
- God's provision of manna in the wilderness required the Israelis to gather it daily without hoarding, with a double supply on the day before the sabbath (Ex. 16:15ff).
- God's provision of water for Israel's army required the soldiers to put down their swords and pick up shovels to dig ditches (2 Kings 3:16).
- God's provision for Elijah required him to go to the brook Cherith and later to the widow's house in Zarephath (1 Kings 17:3-6, 9).
- God's provision of tax money required Simon to fish with a line in the lake Jesus specified -- looking in the mouth of the first fish caught (Mt. 17:27).
There are many other examples, but you get the point.
If you like maggot-infested manna and nothing to eat on the sabbath, ignore God's commands. If Israel's soldiers hadn't dug the ditches, there would have been no water. Had Elijah gone anywhere besides Cherith and Zarephath, he would have missed God's provision. Peter would not have found the coin for taxes in a bird's nest.
Even the verse cited above from Phil. 4:19, "my God shall supply all your needs," is not without conditions. From the context, note the giving of the Philippians. Their giving was ...
- Faithful: "... you sent aid once and again for my necessities" (v. 16).
- Fruitful: "... I seek the fruit that abounds to your account" (v. 17).
- Fragrant: "... the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma" (v. 18).
Because of this, Paul says, your need will be furnished.
But perhaps the most important thing to remember is that in the examples cited above, the means of provision was a once-given-never-to-be-repeated commandment from the Lord.
The supply of manna stopped when Israel planted corn in Canaan and no literal manna has been seen since (though there is a preacher on TV who will send you "miracle manna" if you give him your name and mailing address; it looks like a Graham cracker in a baggie). Digging ditches to hold water was done only once. Ravens were never again commissioned to feed a hungry prophet. Widows have kept a few preachers alive, but not from a meal barrel and cruse of oil that never diminished.
It's not about digging ditches or going fishing. It's about waiting on God, listening for His voice, receiving His specific, personal instructions, and obeying His command. It's not about following steps 1-2-3 but about hearing what God is saying to you and then partnering with Him.
God's provision flows out of our relationship with Him.
The key to provision is knowing the Provider.
