PROVISION

I will abundantly bless her PROVISION: I will satisfy her poor with bread – Psalm 132:15

In Christ, we have access to Abundant PROVISIONS. God provides not just the minimum, but “exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Eph.3:20).  He can issue decrees to anything or anyone in creation to abundantly supply all of our needs: ravens to feed Elijah (1Kgs.17); rained quails into the camp of the Israelites (Exo.16:16); multiplied two loaves of bread and five fishes for thousands (Mt.17:24-27); and directed a haul of fish into Peter’s nets, where he had caught nothing all night (Lk.5:1-5). Genesis 45: 16-28 illustrates God’s abundant provision for His people. Jacob had reluctantly sent his sons down to Egypt to buy more grain in order to survive the famine. But God exceeded his expectation. The sons returned with all their original money, carts full of provisions, and the stunning news: “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” God graciously provides exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think!

God provides abundantly for our material needs: Jacob’s sons returned to Canaan with carts loaded with provisions, new designer apparels in place of their poor shepherds’ clothing, and 300 pieces of silver (Gen. 45:22). All at a time of famine! We should not feel guilty about the material things God provides for us, but we should hold them lightly, remembering that they belong to God, not to us. We’re stewards for Him, not owners. We must be careful “not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1Tim.6:17). We should “be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,” storing up treasure in heaven (1Tim.6:18-19).

God provides abundantly for our emotional needs: Jacob had grieved the loss of his favorite son for over twenty years. Now he feared that he might lose his other sons, especially Benjamin. Jacob and the other sons didn’t have a cordial relationship. But now they came back transformed. God had broken them through their dealings with Joseph. They had confessed their sin before God and were reconciled to their brother. Now, in explaining that Joseph was still alive and the ruler of Egypt, there must have been a healing of their relationships.  Just as God provided for Jacob’s emotional needs, so He wants us to be emotionally whole. The fruit of the Spirit describes an emotionally whole person (Gal.5:22-23). Fruit takes time to grow, but every believer who walks in the Spirit is promised the fruit of emotional wholeness.

God provides abundantly for our spiritual needs: His ultimate goal is always spiritual. He has a spiritual purpose behind any material blessings He supplies or withholds. God shaped Israel into a people for His own possession, a light to the Gentiles. In the same way, He works on us to mature us spiritually. Things don’t just “happen” to us. God shapes us to become His channels of blessings. He has provided abundantly in Christ for all of our needs, even when we’re not aware of them.

God provides for us in His timing, not ours; sometimes letting us come to the very edge, so that we will learn to trust in Him. He provides in ways we would never expect so that we will revel in His abundant goodness. Finally, God provides for us through grace, not through merit. Jacob’s sons were blessed by grace because of their relationship with Joseph, apart from any merit on their part. God doesn’t bless us because we’re such deserving people. He blesses us because of His Son, Jesus. In Him, we’ve got connections in high places! In Him are provided all that we need for life and godliness (2Pet.1:3). Just as Joseph was raised up from the dungeon to Pharaoh’s right hand to save his brothers, so Jesus went into the grave, but was raised up and seated at the Father’s right hand. Jesus is God’s greatest gift to us (Jh.3:16). All the promises of God are yes in Christ (2Cor.1:20). Trusting Him as Saviour and Lord guarantees God’s abundant supply for your every need.