Providence — Not the one in Rhode Island, U.S.A.

As the title says, today’s topic is Providence, but not the one in Rhode Island, the One in Heaven, the One in our hearts — if we so chose.

For several weeks, I’d been turning a passage of scripture around in my head. The portion is from Leviticus 25. God is instructing the children of Israel what to do when they come into the land that He is giving them. These verses deal a lot with the land itself. One of the things they were to do was let the ground fallow on the seventh Sabbath year; that means no tilling. Matter of fact, they were supposed to go so far as to not even prune their trees. In verse 20 they asked a legitimate question: “What are we going to eat?” God smiled and shared with them His marvelous plan. They would have triple the harvest in the sixth year, thereby providing for the sixth, seventh, and even into the eighth year before that harvest. And what were they supposed to do with the volunteer produce during the seventh year? It was for the poor of the land and the animals. It was a testament to His chosen people and to surrounding nations of God’s marvelous provision for those who regard Him and His Word.

In kind, I thought about Elijah and the widow woman in Zarephath. He came on the scene as she was gathering sticks so that she could take her handful of meal, her little oil, and make a cake for her and her son so that they may die. Sounds disheartening, doesn’t it? The prophet asked her to do the unthinkable: “Do as you said; but make me a little cake first.” Many would probably think: The audacity! Let’s look at this: his request came as direction given him from the LORD for his care and a promise from the LORD for provision for all three of them. If she served him first, she could feed them from the meal that would not run out and the vessel of oil that would not empty until the LORD sent rain on the earth.

Can you imagine what might have crossed her mind? Who knows? In verse 9 the LORD tells Elijah that He commanded a widow woman there to feed him. How did He speak to her? There’s no indication that she believed in the God of the Jews but she certainly recognized Him for she said to Elijah, “the LORD thy God” when stating how little in substance she had. That being said, she was expecting someone, right? But she probably didn’t have a clue as to who. Did she speak to the prophet the way she did to feel him out, to see if he was the one of whom the LORD commanded? Regardless, she did as she was told. She trusted a God that was not her own and acted on the words of the man of God thereby feeding them all. What results could we expect by trusting a God that is our own and act on His words? 

I know I’m on the right track by coming to you and presenting us a case to trust the LORD to provide for us. As I was turning scripture over in my mind, I happened upon a little snippet of a ministry program. The hostess was sharing that many years ago they needed rent for their little meeting place. If memory serves, they needed $75, only $30 came in. They prayed and recounted. This I believe she said they did three times; on the third time they had the full amount. On another occasion they were in a foreign country and wanted to provide dinners for the ministers there. They ordered for the amount of those who reserved their place; twice as many showed up. The servers did not fret, but instead prayed and trusted the LORD to provide — which He did; the meals that they ordered multiplied and all were fed.

We need to think outside of the box. Many of the things I’m presenting are for physical sustenance. When we return to the story of the widow, we discover a few verses down that her son became sick unto death. It was the prophet, through the power of the living God, who raised him from the dead. If she had not stepped out in faith in the first place, she and her son would have died. But the encounter with the man of God not only sustained them through drought, but brought her son back to life. This was the first recorded instance in the Bible where a person was raised from the dead. The faith that the two of them had was illogical — there was no precedence for resurrecting the dead.  And yet, for whatever reason, Elijah petitioned the LORD God Almighty and he believed for what they could have considered impossible.

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26 KJV 

What are you facing today? Does your situation look as bleak as the widow woman’s? Bleaker? Then be of good cheer! ”Christi, you’ve gone mad,” you say. No I haven’t.   

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 KJV

Reflect upon what the prophet believed for and received from God before Jesus’ coming. He didn’t live on this side of the cross, he didn’t have the promises of God from the lips of His Son, he didn’t have the blood of Jesus speaking for him — what he did have was faith in God and actions to back it up. What we have is better than what Elijah had and yet he saw the dead come to life. Just think of it! How? How?! you ask.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 KJV

There’s no instruction to fast, to pray ten hail Mary’s, or feed 100 homeless people, there’s nothing to do on our part but seek God and His righteousness first. Then some things will be added unto you. ”You’ll have a little meal and a little oil, I’ll get you through the next three days and then you’ll die.” No, that’s not how God rules. He said all these things shall be added unto you.

Sounds so simple, right? And it is! Yet I sit here at my desk, rowing the same boat with you. I am turning things and needs over in my head, battling distractions so that I can be quiet, seek God, and hear what He has to say about these things; if there are directions I must follow them. If not, I must wait in expectation, quietly trust in Him, and praise Him for the answers I do not yet see with my natural eye.

2024 may feel like a roller coaster ride with highs, lows, faith and blows, but through it all, if we purpose to seek, to obey, and trust God, I believe we will not only be sustained, but we will experience the miraculous. Is there anyone out there who couldn’t stand to see the power of God displayed in their life?

Dear LORD,

We don’t know what lies ahead, but You do; not only do You know, but You go before us and beside us. We thank You for that. Help us to not be moved by what we see or hear, but may we plant ourselves in Your Word — believing nothing and no one that doesn’t line up to You and Your Word, oh LORD. 

We need You. We purpose here, together this day, to seek, obey, and trust in You to provide all that we need . . . and more, for You are the God of more than enough. May we be witnesses to those around us of Your marvelous, supernatural providence, and lights to those who stumble in the darkness. May we be living testimonies, bringing praise, glory, and honor to Your name,

in Jesus’ name, Amen.